Presidency counters Kukah on Tinubu’s alleged snub of peace accord

The presidency has dismissed recent claims by the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, Matthew Kukah, regarding President Bola Tinubu’s involvement in the 2023 presidential election peace accord.

Bishop Kukah, during a town hall meeting on election security in Benin, Edo State, alleged that Tinubu had snubbed the peace accord, an annual commitment by political candidates to ensure a violence-free election.

However, the presidency has strongly refuted the claim, emphasizing that Tinubu actively participated in the peace process during the election.

“What is also very interesting is that the current president, when he was a presidential candidate, did not sign. It wasn’t our fault that the political opposition didn’t take advantage of it,” Kukah had said.

Reacting in a statement on Tuesday via his X handle, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, described Kukah’s claim as incorrect.

“Contrary to the claims by Bishop Kukah, President Tinubu signed the two peace accords preceding his election in 2023.

“The first accord, committing the candidates to a free and credible election in the country, was signed on September 29, 2022. Vice President Kashim Shettima represented Tinubu.

“The second agreement, signed on February 23, 2023, was for the candidates to accept the election outcome. Tinubu signed,” Onanuga wrote.

News360 Nigeria reports that in the build-up to the February 25 presidential election, political parties’ candidates gathered at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, to sign the peace pact for a free and credible election in the country.

The Labour Party candidate, Peter Obi and his Peoples Democratic Party counterpart, Atiku Abubakar, were in attendance.

Also present were the New Nigeria Peoples Party flagbearer, Rabiu Kwankwaso, the flagbearer and the standard bearer of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore.

However, Tinubu was said to be away in the United Kingdom.

Another peace accord was signed on February 23, 2023, which was for the candidates to accept the outcome of the election.

President Tinubu was present at the signing of the second pact.