Polls: Jonathan, Buhari Renew Accord

President Goodluck Jonathan and the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari, on Thursday, restated their commitment to violence-free polls.
Popularly referred to as Abuja Accord, the violence-free polls agreement requires the presidential candidates in Saturday’s election, their political parties and supporters to shun acts of violence before, during and after the elections.
Thurday’s meeting of the two political gladiators was arranged by the Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar- led National Peace Committee on 2015 Elections, to get their commitment to respect the outcome of the elections.
The peace committee was set up after the Abuja Accord signed by both Jonathan and Buhari. The two leaders, along with other presidential candidates had on January 14, signed the Accord. Thursday’s meeting, at Sheraton Hotel, Abuja, was to restate their commitment to the accord, to reassure Nigerians and the international community that they were disposed to free, fair, credible and peaceful elections.
General Abubakar said his committee had been working round the clock to assist the parties and Nigerians to ensure that there was peace and harmony before, during and after the elections this time around. He thanked Jonathan and Buhari for finding time to meet with the committee, and the party chairmen for the support received in trying to send the message of peace.
“I’m happy that both parties, the contestants are committed to free and fair elections, free of violence,” Abubakar said. The renewed accord read by Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah harped on the need for the parties concerned to respect the outcome of the elections as would be declared by the INEC in order to stem the tide of post-election violence.