Nigerian Bishop Warns Against Political Violence as Electoral Peace Pact Falls Short
The failure of political parties and their candidates to sign the Peace Accord, a pre-election ritual aimed at shunning electoral violence, has been criticized by Matthew Hassan-Kukah, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto. Kukah expressed his concerns during the Edo Election Security Townhall in Benin City on Sunday.
The event was organized by Channels Television, the Kimpact Development Initiative, and the UK International Development. The Peace Accord has become a standard electoral ritual in Nigeria over the past decade, but some political parties have chosen not to sign it. In this case, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) skipped the signing last week, citing allegations of police misconduct.
Kukah, who is a convenor of the National Peace Committee, emphasized that the committee cannot force any candidate to sign the accord. He explained that it is a moral obligation and not a legal requirement, adding that the committee has no authority to take action against candidates who refuse to sign.
The bishop referred to the 2015 presidential election, where then-PDP candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar initially failed to sign the Peace Accord, but later did so. He also pointed out that the current president, during his own presidential campaign, did not sign the accord, which was not challenged by the opposition.
According to Kukah, the only consequence of refusing to sign the Peace Accord is sending a wrong signal that can be exploited by the opposition. He assured that the National Peace Committee will not take any action against candidates who do not sign, but instead urges them to reconsider their decision.
In a similar context, former Lagos governor Bola Tinubu, a 2023 APC presidential candidate, did not sign the Peace Accord in 2022. His then-running mate, Kashim Shettima, signed on his behalf.
As Nigeria approaches its September 21, 2024, Governorship Election, Kukah’s message serves as a reminder of the importance of peaceful and respectful campaigns. The absence of a signed Peace Accord from some parties may signal a lack of commitment to this goal.
