Elections: UN Commends Signing Of National Peace Accord
Ahead of 2023 presidential and parliamentary elections in Nigeria, the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Officer in Charge of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), Giovanie BIHA, has commended the signing of the Second National Peace Accord for peaceful elections in Nigeria under the auspices of the National Peace Committee (NPC).
Under the Peace Accord, the 18 presidential candidates and the Chairmen of their respective parties renewed their commitment to peaceful, transparent and credible elections. They further reaffirmed their commitment to fully abide by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to respect the rules and regulations as laid down in the Electoral Act 2022; and to adhere to best international standards, and best practices of our democratic processes.
“I am determined to place national interest above personal and partisan concerns, hereby commit myself to accept and abide by the outcome of the 2023 Presidential elections, and if issues should arise, I will deploy constitutional means and appeal to the courts rather than unconstitutional means.” The Presidential candidates reaffirmed.
Ms. Biha appealed to all candidates and their supporters to respect the terms of the Peace Accord with due respect for the rule of law.
She further reiterated the importance of peaceful elections to Nigeria, the region and the continent while highlighting the centrality of peaceful elections to peace, stability and development of Nigeria.
The Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General reassured of the United Nations support to the people of Nigeria and expressed the hope that the elections of Saturday 25 February would further deepen democratic consolidation in Nigeria and the African region.
President Muhammadu Buhari, charged the contestants and their political parties to respect the choice of voters and accept the result of the elections as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, the agency empowered by law to do so.
He reminded Nigerians that they had no other country outside Nigeria, and urged them to do everything to keep it safe, united and peaceful.
Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, restated the readiness of the Commission to conducting the elections as scheduled. He reassured Nigerians of a transparent exercise.
Chairman of the National Peace Committee, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, in his welcome address, explained that the committee had been monitoring compliance with the first national accord by the politicians, and “we recorded some of the infractions that were a thing of concern.”
According to him, there was a lack of compliance by the major political parties. 44% of the violations were carried out by the spokespersons of the political parties; 26% by party members; 19% by the presidential candidates themselves; 11% by hardcore supporters and 4% by chairmen of the parties.
In her remarks, the European Union (EU) ambassador to Nigeria, Samuela Isopi, urged Nigeria to lead by example and send a strong message to the world about consolidating democracy.
She called on all candidates to accept the results of the elections and seek legal redress when dissatisfied.
In attendance were the UN Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Alice Wairimu Nderitu; UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Matthias Schmale; Bishop Matthew Kukah, and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saad Abubakar III.
Other attendees were the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Usman Alkali Baba, and former president of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki, who leads the Commonwealth Election Observer Group to Nigeria.