The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is yet to append his signature to the Peace Accord aimed at encouraging the peaceful conduct of the election.
reports that the leadership of the National Peace Committee (NPC) dispose this 46 days to the presidential poll, which is scheduled to be held on the 25th of February.
The committee revealed that the space allotted to the APC presidential candidate to sign remains empty.
A member of the NPC, Rev. Fr. Atta Barkindo, told THISDAY on Monday that the committee as a matter rule does not allow vice presidential candidates or party chairmen to sign on behalf the presidential candidates.
According to the clergyman, all the candidates that have so far signed the peace agreement did so in person, not through any representation.
He stated categorically that the “APC presidential candidate didn’t sign our peace accord. We don’t allow proxy.”
Barkindo, however, said that the doors of the NPC were still open, adding that any candidate who is interested can come to their office and sign the document.
But speaking on the same topic, Tinubu’s Media spokesman, Tunde Rahman, said the former Lagos State governor was away when the Peace Accord was signed.
Rahman disclosed that Tinubu empowered the national chairman of the ruling party, Adamu Abdullahi to sign on his behalf.
He said: “When the peace accord was signed, Asiwaju was not in the country and the APC chairman and vice presidential candidate attended and party chairman signed on behalf of Tinubu.
There was no information that he was expected to come and sign again when he returned to the country.
“There was an issue about whether a VP should stand for the presidential candidate or not, but that it was decided that the chairman or any officer of the party can attend and sign the peace document.”
reports that the NPC, which has the objective of supporting efforts at ensuring free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria, is co-led by former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar; Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar II; Cardinal John Onayeikan; Bishop Hassan Kukah and other eminent statesmen.
