Bishop Matthew Hassan-Kukah, co-convener of the National Peace Committee and Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, has disclosed that President Bola Tinubu did not sign the peace accord ahead of the 2023 general elections. His remarks come amid controversy surrounding the Peoples Democratic Party's (PDP) refusal to sign a similar peace pact for the upcoming Edo State gubernatorial election on September 21.
The PDP recently boycotted the peace signing, citing issues with the police as their reason. These peace accords are designed to promote non-violence during elections.
Speaking at a town hall event organized by Channels Television, Bishop Kukah highlighted that while the peace pact is a moral gesture and not legally binding, declining to sign it sends a concerning message. He noted that similar incidents occurred during past elections, referencing how PDP's presidential candidate in 2019, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, initially skipped the signing but later participated.
Kukah remarked on the significance of these pacts: “The peace accord is not part of the Electoral Act; it's a moral agreement. We can't force anyone to sign, but refusing to do so could send the wrong signal, which opponents might exploit.”
He also pointed out that Tinubu, while a presidential candidate, didn't sign the peace agreement for the 2023 elections, stating that the opposition missed an opportunity to make an issue of it. However, Kukah emphasized that the committee has no power to take legal action against candidates who choose not to sign the peace accord.
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