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Former military head of state Abdusalami Abubakar expressed concern about the lack of compliance by major political parties to the National Peace Accord signed in September 2022.
“Forty-four per cent of the violations were carried out by the spokespersons of the political parties; 26 per cent by party members; 19 per cent by the presidential candidates themselves; 11 per cent by the hardcore supporters and four per cent by the chairmen of the parties,” he said on Wednesday, at the signing of the second Peace Accord for the 2023 presidential election at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.
Mr Abubakar is the chairman of the National Peace Committee.
He stated that since the start of official campaigning on September 28, 2022, there had been 60 attacks recorded on political rallies, according to data collated by the National Election Violence Tracker.
According to the ex-head of state, these attacks resulted in nine fatalities, with the highest numbers in the South-West and South-East and lowest in the North-East and North-Central.
Mr Abubakar called on all political actors, key stakeholders and Nigerians to support a peaceful transition and promote the ideals of peace and a violent free post-election period, stressing that “all politicians who will sign the accord to fully commit themselves to the letter and spirit of the accord.”
The INEC chairman Mahmood Yakubu assured the nation that the presidential election would be held on February 25, insisting “INEC is ready.”
According to him, INEC has already begun moving sensitive materials to the various council areas nationwide.
“By Friday, we will activate the registration area centres so that at first light on Saturday, polling units will open on time. The commission is committed to free, fair and credible elections in compliance with the electoral framework and the spirit of the Peace Accord,” stated Mr Mahmoud.
The INEC chief added, “All political parties and candidates are hereby reassured of the commission’s neutrality. INEC is not a political party. We have no candidate in the election. Our allegiance is to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and our loyalty is to Nigerians.”
(NAN)
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