President Muhammadu Buhari says the signing of the Peace Accord with former President Goodluck Jonathan and other presidential candidates in the build up to the 2015 general election contributed to the peaceful outcome of the polls.

Buhari said this while receiving the National Peace Committee (NPC), led by former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Thursday.

According to a statement issued by his spokesman, Femi Adesina, President Buhari urged all the signatories to the 2023 election Peace Accord and their supporters, to abide by its content and spirit.

He noted that the signing of the First National Peace Accord by presidential candidates in the 2023 election was aimed at committing political parties, aspirants and their supporters to conduct their campaigns in a peaceful manner, devoid of ethnic, religious, and hate speeches that could mar the forthcoming elections.

Buhari said: “The timing of the First National Peace Accord is significant considering political party campaigns have already commenced in the country.

“The initiatives undertaken by the NPC are commendable as these efforts would ensure issue-based campaigns.

“I look forward to the second phase of the signing of the National Peace Accord coming up in January 2023.

“You may recall that President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and I signed the first National Peace Accord before the 2015 elections.

“It is my conviction that it contributed significantly to the peaceful outcome of the 2015 election.

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“It is my hope that the National Peace Committee continues this important work  post 2023.”

President Buhari reiterated that credible, free, and fair elections can only be achieved in a peaceful environment, adding that the signing of the Electoral Act 2021 as amended with landmark provisions underline his resolve for transparent and all-inclusive electoral process.

He, therefore, urged all stakeholders to conduct themselves in a manner that would ensure the successful conduct of the 2023 general election as well as smooth transition from one democratically elected Government to another.

Speaking, Abubakar, who briefed the President on the activities of the committee in the build-up to the next year’s election, said they have met with various stakeholders, including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Heads of security agencies, who reassured of their preparedness to conduct the polls creditably.

The former Head of State told the President that the membership of the Committee has been expanded to bring in some “young minds”, expressing confidence that the committee would do its utmost to ensure that all political actors live up to expectations.

The NPC chairman also lauded President Buhari for repeatedly reaffirming his commitment to fairness in the 2023 elections, particularly at international outings.

He noted with delight that the elections in Anambra, Ekiti and Osun states have confirmed President Buhari’s irreversible commitment to credible and violence-free polls in the country.

The members of the National Peace committee are Gen. Abubakar, Chairman; Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, the Sultan of Sokoto; John Cardinal Onaiyekan; Aliko Dangote; Prof. Ameze Guobadia; Prince Sam Amuka; Justice Roseline Ukeje (rtd); Prof. Ibrahim Gambari; Bishop Mathew Hasan Kukah; Lt. Gen. Mathew Luther Agwai; Femi Otedola; Ahmed Yayale; Idayat Hassan; John Momoh; Sani Suleiman Atsu; and Fr. Attah Barkindo, Head of NPC Secretariat.

The Star