‘I wasn’t invited’ – Atiku breaks silence on absence at peace deal signing

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar has revealed that he was not “formally invited” to the national peace accord for the 2019 elections.

The main rival of President Muhammadu Buhari was among the candidates absent at the event which held at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Abuja, on Tuesday.

The National Peace Committee, which organised the event, had said invitation was sent to all 73 presidential candidates contesting the 2019 elections.

But Paul Ibe, Atiku’s spokesman, quoted the presidential candidate as saying he was not invited to the programme.

“His Excellency did not get any invitation for the programme. I have spoke with him and I can confirm he wasn’t invited,” Ibe told TheCable.

Donald Duke of Social Democratic Party (SDP), Kingsley Moghalu of Young Progressives Party (YPP), Oby Ezekwesili of Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) and Omoyele Sowore of African Action Congress (AAC), were among the presidential candidates absent.

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari was among those present at the occasion.

Accompanied by Adams Oshiomhole, national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Buhari appealed to the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) and the security agencies to put nation first in the discharge of their duties during the polls.

Below are some of the commitments made by the candidates who signed the peace deal:

• To run issue-based campaigns at national, state and local government levels. In, this, we pledge to refrain from campaigns that will involve religious incitements, ethnic or tribal profiling, both by ourselves and by all agents in our names.
• To refrain from making or causing to make in our names and that 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;
• 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 impartially.
• To forcefully and publicly speak out against provocative utterances a d oppose all acts of electoral violence whether perpetuated by our supporters and/or opponents.