President Bola Tinubu was conspicuously absent at the Bola Tinubu Conference Center, formerly International Conference Center ICC, Abuja, as nineteen Presidential candidates of the leading political parties met on Monday to sign Peace Accord, ahead of the commencement of the 2027 presidential election campaigns.

The peace accord was initiated to curb electoral violence in Nigeria by encouraging aspiring candidates to appreciate the needs of the general electorate, moderate campaigns accordingly.

But Omoyele Sowore, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress ( AAC) called on the organisers of the Peace Accord to rather initiate the signing of “Justice Accord”, rather than a Peace Accord.

“What is the essence of the peace accord that people will not obey, especially when people know that they will not get justice.

“We need to address the issue of impunity amongst the ruling class. There is not justice in Nigeria. So what we really need is a Justice Accord that would compel government to act with justice and fairness”

The accord also encourages the politicians to emphasise more debates among the various candidates, focusing on qualitative education, improvement of power supply, creation of employment and improvement of the economy.

As at the time of filing this report, Peter Obi, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), candidate and Omoyele Sowore, of the African Action Congress (AAC) had arrived the conference hall for the peace accord signing.

Those expected to attend the event include Donald Duke Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) Ada Frederick, of the National Democratic Party (NDP), as well as Governor Seyi Makinde of the Allies Peoples Movement (APM).

Others include Abbas Bin Aliyu Action Democratic Party ( ADP), Sandy Onor of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Samuel Memeh, of the Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA).

Although no reason was given for President Tinubu’s absence, BusinessDay sources at the presidential Villa, said the President had some official engagements at the presidential Villa

The peace pact (also known as the “Abuja Accord”) have the potentials to prevent candidates and political parties from making public statements, pronouncements, declarations or speeches that have the capacity to incite violence, especially, during and after the conduct of the elections.

The Peace Accord also helps to curtail religious, ethnic or tribal incitements before, during and after elections.

The agreement also refrains government institutions, such as the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) and security agencies from acting in a manner that would encourage electoral violence.

The Peace Accord was initiated in 2014, as a Non-partisan body by some prominent Nigerian statesmen and religious leaders to mitigate electoral violence.

Amongst the initiators, Abdulsalami Abubakar, a former military head of state, is the Chairman of the National Peace Committee.

Others include Matthew Hassan Kukah, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, as well as Atta Barkindo, also a Catholic Priest and Head of the National Peace Committee Secretariat (operating through The Kukah Centre).

Others include the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad III, John Cardinal Onaiyekan: Catholic Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja and Martin Luther Agwai, former Chief of Defence Staff.

The committee also has Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote and Ibrahim Gambari, former Chief of Staff to the President. (BusinessDay)

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