Kukah Claims Tinubu Did Not Sign Peace Accord as Presidential Candidate, Says PDP Cannot Be Forced
Bishop Matthew Hassan-Kukah of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto has stated that President Bola Tinubu did not sign the Peace Accord during his presidential campaign. He made this statement at the Edo Election Security Townhall in Benin City.
Kukah criticized political parties and candidates for not committing to the Peace Accord, which aims to prevent electoral violence, noting that this sends a troubling message to the public. He mentioned that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had declined to sign the peace pact, citing allegations against the police.
As a key member of the National Peace Committee, led by former Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar, Kukah explained that the committee lacks the authority to compel candidates to sign the peace agreement. He emphasized that the committee’s role is moral rather than legal, pointing out that past elections have seen similar situations.
Kukah recalled that in the 2019 elections, PDP’s presidential candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar initially did not sign the Peace Accord but later did so after criticism. He also noted that Tinubu, as a candidate, had not signed the accord, and it was not the committee’s responsibility to enforce it. He added that while failing to sign the Peace Accord can be politically damaging, the committee does not have the power to take legal action against candidates for not participating.
