Former Vice President and Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the Presidential candidate of Social Democratic Party, SDP, Mr. Donald Duke and that of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria, ACPN, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili on Tuesday boycotted the signing of peace accord by Presidential candidate’s and their political parties in Abuja.

The ceremony attended by members of the diplomatic corps, international community, religious and traditional rulers, was organised by National Peace Committee for the 91 Chairmen of the registered political parties and the 73 Presidential candidates participating in the next year’s election.

However, there was a protest by some political parties’ Chairmen, who claimed that the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, was given undue advantage at the ceremony. The aggrieved party Chairmen wondered why President Muhammadu Buhari who is the APC candidate in the 2019 election should be given preferential treatment and also why the APC Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole was allowed to have a group photograph with the committee members excluding other Chairmen.

The protest drew the attention of the Chairman of the National Peace Committee and former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, retd, who apologized to the aggrieved Chairmen and their Presidential candidates for any lapses recorded.

Earlier in his remarks, General Abubakar, underscored the essence of peace towards ensuring credible polls. He thanked President Buhari for his commitment to ensuring peace and credible election as well as being present to sign the peace agreement and advised him to lead by example. He however, noted that currently, security should be a source of worry to everyone, especially the leaders, and cautions that their acts of commission or omission could make matters worse. He urged them to temper their utterances and action with responsibility and patriotism.

•Excerpted from a Vanguard report

•President Buhari in a group photo with National Peace Committee Members and Presidential aspirants after participating at Signing of Peace Agreement and Memorandum of Understanding by Presidential Candidates and Party Chairmen in Abuja on 11th Dec 2018