With just 36 days to the general elections, the Chairman of the National Peace Committee, General Abdulsalam Abubakar (retd), has revealed that Nigerians have a mortal fear that the Feb/March polls may be marred by violence.
He made this known during the signing of the peace accord by 8 Kano gubernatorial candidates organized by the state wing of the National Peace Committee on Wednesday.
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Abubakar who was represented by the Head of the Secretariat, Peace Accords Committee, Reverend Father Attah Barkindo during the event, said there was palpable fear amongst citizens which should be doused by the relevant agencies.
“Nigerians are worried that elections will be inconclusive and violent, this makes it mandatory for INEC and other security agencies to sit up to ensure that the right things are done,” he said.
Abubakar added that the act of attacking campaign convoys is another serious security problem that is brewing and should be stopped.
The former military head of state urged candidates to accept the outcome of the elections as a way of making Kano great and peaceful.
The Special Representative of the United Nations for West Africa, Madam Giovanni Biha, urged candidates to openly and actively denounce violence, saying that doing so will in no small measure curtail every uncertainty.
Madam Giovanni Biha commended the candidates for agreeing to sign the Peace Accord, explaining that the agreement in itself is a move towards ensuring peace in Kano.
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Secretary to the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, in Kano, Garba Lawal Muhammad said the Commission had already addressed issues with late arrivals of elections materials and other serious issues.
He said the essence of the peace accord is to commit actors to do what is right, this is because according to him, in the 2015 election, not less than 58 people were killed.