Ahead of the February general elections, presidential candidates of all political parties, including President Goodluck Jonathan of People Democratic Party (PDP), and General Mohammadu Buhari of All Progressives Congress (APC) Wednesday signed an accord to ensure non-violent polls next month, thisdaylive.com reports.
In the undertaking signed in the presence of eminent personalities such as the former Secretary General of the United Nations, Dr. Kofi Annan and former Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, all the presidential candidates of the parties pledged to refrain from campaigns that will involve religious incitement, ethnic or tribal profiling and to get their agents to toe similar line.
All the candidates of their parties also agreed "to refrain from making, or causing to make our names or that of of our party, any public statements, pronouncements, declarations or speeches that have the capacity to incite any form of violence before, during and after the elections".
Other presidential candidates present at the ceremony include Tunde Anifowose Kelani of Action Alliance (AA) Dr. Rafiu Salau of Alliance for Democracy (AD), Ganiyu Galadima of Alliance Congress (AC), Alh. Mani Ibrahim Ahemad of ADC, Chief Sam Eke of Citizens Popular Party (CPP) Ambros Albert Oworu of Hope Party, Prof. Oluremi Sonaiya of KOWA party and Chief Chekwas Okorie of Unity Progressive Party (UPP).
In his speech, President Goodluck Jonathan said contrary to the belief that past violence was as a result of electoral malpractices, a closer study of the situation has shown that the issue could be related to other human factors.
According to the President, politicians more often than not utter provocative statements and whip up unnecessary sentiments and instigate violence as soon as they notice that they have lost an election.
Culled from thisdaylive.com
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