Bishop Matthew Hassan-Kukah of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto has expressed concern over political parties and candidates refusing to sign the Peace Accord, which promotes non-violence during elections. He noted that this sends a troubling message to Nigerians ahead of the Edo State governorship election.
Speaking on Sunday at the Edo Election Security Townhall in Benin City, organized by Channels Television in collaboration with Kimpact Development Initiative and UK International Development, Kukah highlighted the importance of the Peace Accord, though it is not legally binding.
Seventeen political parties, including the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Labour Party (LP), are participating in the September 21, 2024 election, but the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) declined to sign the pre-election peace agreement last week, citing grievances with the police.
Kukah, a member of the National Peace Committee led by former Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar, clarified that while the committee promotes moral responsibility, it cannot force candidates to sign the accord.
“The Peace Accord is not enshrined in the Electoral Act; it’s a moral gesture. You can’t compel people to love or be at peace with one another,” he said. Referring to past elections, Kukah recalled how in 2015, PDP presidential candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar initially missed the signing but later joined, and how current President Bola Tinubu, then an APC candidate, skipped the Peace Accord signing in 2022, sending a representative instead.
Kukah added, “While not signing the Peace Accord doesn’t carry legal consequences, it sends the wrong message, potentially giving the opposition a chance to exploit the situation.”