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Presidential Candidates Sign Pact To Avoid Violence During Polls
The presidential aspirants for the February 14
poll and the leaders of their political parties
signed an undertaking to avoid actions that
could endorse violence during and after the
elections.
It should be noted that key presidential
candidates General Muhammadu Buhari from
the All Progressives Congress (APC) and
incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan from
the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
shook hands and embraced after receiving
remarks renouncing violence.
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Other political parties that signed the non-
violence pact comprised the Action Alliance, AA,
Alliance for Democracy, AD, United Democratic
Party, UDP, United Progressive Party, UPP,
African Democratic Congress, ADC, and Hope
Democratic Party, HDP.
President advised politicians to avoid actions
and subjects capable of inflaming passion
among the body of voters.
According to Jonathan Nigeria must avoid a
repeat of the 2011 post-general elections which
he said was adjudicate the best in the country’s
history.
He added the conduct of the poll cannot be
accused of the outbreak of violence since he
even lost in the states were clashes erupted
causing hundreds of deaths.
Jonathan said: “ You cannot say there were
malpractices because in Kano, we got only 15
percent of the votes. In Bauchi, I got 15 percent
of the votes. Even in states where we got 80
percent in places considered as opposition, we
did not experience any violence.
“What leads to violence is not necessarily due
to electoral malpractices. There are other
causes of violence.
“What leads to electoral violence in Nigeria and
other African countries can be categorized into
three factors. One of the key things is the
provocative statements we make and when we
are making these statements the younger ones
are listening, followers are listening. We
threaten our opponents.”
READ ALSO: Buhari Shares Photos Of
Politicians In His Team
APC presidential candidate in his turn asked for
the strengthening of democratic institutions in
Nigeria. Buhari said before every polls, there is
usually amendment to the Electoral Act making
difficult to cheat the nation.
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