2019: Sign Electoral Act Amendment if you truly desire free, fair, credible elections, Atiku charges Buhari

*Signs National Peace Accord as Abdusalam apologises omission in invitation *Assures Nigerian women of fair representation in govt Atiku made the charge on Wednesday at the Kukah Centre, Abuja while signing the Peace Pact ahead of the 2019 General elections organised by the National Peace Committee. The former vice president who was delighted that the Presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), President Muhammadu Buhari, said that for Buhari to demonstrate the commitment of his administration and that of his party, the APC, to credible elections next year, “he need to take a step further by signing the Electoral Act Amendment Bill into law”. Atiku further reiterated that he did not shun the signing of the Peace Pact on Tuesday but was not invited by the organisers. He said as a democrat, he and his party, the PDP are committed to free, fair and peaceful elections. Atiku declared “I am a democrat ab initio; I have always being a democrat and will continue to be one”. Chairman of the National Peace Committee, former military President Gen Abdusalami Abubakar (rtd) apologised to the PDP and its candidate Atiku Abubakar for the regrettable omission in the invitation. He said “in order to dispute the notion that he (Atiku) absented himself from yesterday’s event and to disabuse the minds of Nigerians, I called Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and he promised to come and sign the document and I am delighted he is here today”. He called on the Director of the Kukah Center, Rev. Father Attah Barkindo to read the letters of the Peace Pact to Atiku. Letters of the accord says that Presidential candidates of political parties agreed to among other things, “to run issue- based campaigns at national, State and local government levels. In this, we pledge to refrain from campaigns that will involve religious incitement, ethnic or tribal profiling, both by ourselves and by all agents acting in our names, party, any public statements, pronouncements, declarations and speeches that have the capacity to incite any form of violence, before, during and after the elections. “To commit ourselves and political parties to the monitoring of the adherence to this Accord by a National Peace Committee made up of respected statesmen and women, traditional and religious leaders; “To support all Institutions of government including INEC and the security agencies to act and be seen to act with impartiality; “To formally and publicly speak out against provocative utterances and oppose all acts of Electoral violence whether perpetuated by our supporters and or opponents”. Accompanied Atiku to the event were the party National chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, his running mate, Peter Obi, former governor of Cross River State, Liyel Imoke, Presidential aspirant, Tanimu Kabiru Turaki, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Director Media& Publicity, PDP Presidential Campaign Council, Kola Ologbondiyan and Bolaji Abdulahi, among others. Meanwhile, the PDP Presidential candidate has promised Nigerian women of fair representation in his government if elected next year. Addressing a town hall meeting with PDP Women Stakeholders at Chida Hotel Event Centre, Abuja later, Atiku said the PDP as a party has always been gender sensitive, stressing that ” PDP has never forsaken the course and advancement of women”, adding that he demonstrated this in his capacity as vice President of the country. He said “In terms of quantity and quality, women will play jey roles in our administration. I will commit a strong representation of women in our PDP government. “I am not talking politics here. I am emotionally and sentimentally attached to women because I was brought up by women; my grand- mother and my mother “. Atiku disclosed that he had pulled out about 45,000 Nigerian families out of poverty by giving live saving loans to women from a microfinance bank he established. He said the microfinance bank run by experts on Bangladesh model is one of the best in the country today and that he as a matter of policy directed that 80 percent of the bank’s loans should be given to women. “If you want to eradicate poverty, empower women”, he said. Tunde Opalana, Abuja