Nigeria—Abuja To avoid disruption during the February 25 elections, Nigeria’s 18 presidential contenders signed a second peace deal in Abuja. The deal ensures “the conduct of free, fair, credible, transparent and verifiable elections cognizant of the need to preserve a peaceful atmosphere before, during and after the 2023 general elections” and “to place national interest above personal and political concerns”. Former military chief of state and retired general Abdusalam Abubakar stated a September 2022 deal had been repeatedly broken.
The National Peace Committee and Abuja-based think tank Kukah Leadership Centre hosted the Tuesday evening signing with President Muhammadu Buhari and other African and international leaders and diplomats. Committee officials claimed the deal bound political parties, candidates, and their supporters to use constitutional measures to dispute electoral results. Abubakar, the National Peace Committee chair, said 44 percent of the September accord’s violations “were carried out by the spokespersons for political parties, 26 percent by party members, 19 percent by the presidential candidates themselves, 11 percent by the hardcore supporters and four percent by the chairmen of parties”. “As a nation, we’ve got to put a stop to all this,” he remarked. Saturday’s Buhari succession battle is heated. Four candidates stand out among the 18.
Former Lagos governor Bola Tinubu challenges former vice president and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Atiku Abubakar (PDP). But, Peter Obi of the Labor Party is a surprising third contender challenging Nigeria’s political dichotomy. Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) is a wild card. To prevent Nigerian election violence, local and international players monitored Tuesday’s signing. Diplomats, observers from the African Union, European Union, and Commonwealth, and presidential contenders attended the signing. Thabo Mbeki, Joyce Banda, Uhuru Kenyatta, John Mahama, and Ernest Bai Koroma, former presidents of South Africa, Malawi, Kenya, Ghana, and Sierra Leone, led international observer delegations. Patricia Scott, Commonwealth secretary-general and UN envoy, and Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, attended. President Buhari advised competitors to “trust our lawful processes”. ”Let me remind all Nigerians not for the first time that this is the only nation we have and we must do everything to maintain it secure, unified and peaceful,” he added.
No rioting or violence should follow election results. Any grievances—personal or institutional—should be brought to the competent courts.” The Independent National Electoral Commission chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, said vote papers and other materials were being transferred to polling sites nationwide. “By Friday we will activate the registration area centers so that at first light on Saturday, polling units will open on time.”
