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The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, was absent on Thursday when the presidential candidates of other political parties signed a peace accord ahead of the 2023 elections.
Tinubu was represented by his running mate, Kashim Shettima, at the event, which took place at the International Conference Centre (ICC) Abuja.
Major contenders in the presidential race, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, Peter Obi of the Labour Party, and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, were all present.
The peace accord was organised by the National Peace Committee headed by former Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar and Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah.
The INEC chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu while addressing the leaders and candidates of political parties said it was not enough to simply sign the Peace Accord what is more important is to abide by its letter and spirit.
Prof Yakubu advised them to pass the message to their candidates, members and supporters across the country for electoral compliance.
He explained that the 2023 general election will be conducted for one thousand four hundred ninety one constituencies nationwide made up of one Presidential constituency, twenty eight Governorship elections, 109 senatorial Districts , 360 Federal constituencies and 993 state Assembly constituencies.
The INEC chairman maintained every election was important, therefore the commitment to peaceful and issue-based electioneering campaign should resonate beyond the 18 political party Chairmen and presidential candidates.