Don’t Violate Peace Accord, US Warns Candidates
United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Stuart Symington, has urged all candidates, who participated in last Saturday’s presidential election to honour the Abuja Peace Accord signed before the polls.
Apparently responding to calls by Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to declare its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, winner of the election, Symington said no one should claim victory before final announcement of results.
He also commended Nigerians for turning out in millions to vote, despite incidents of violence in some places.
The US envoy, who said this in a statement, Monday, condoled with the families of those who lost their lives during the exercise.
The statement read: “I congratulate the tens of millions of Nigerians who stood patiently in long lines to vote this week and the hundreds of thousands who worked together with INEC to conduct the elections.
“As noted by many observer groups in their preliminary reports, this election was predominantly peaceful, and it was proof of the Nigerian people’s resolute commitment to choose their leaders.
‘The peaceful achievement of millions was shadowed by the violence of a few. We extend our deepest sympathy to the families of those who lost their lives, and we urge all candidates to honour the Peace Accord they signed.
“All should convince those who support them to refrain from using force or violence to interfere with INEC. No one should break the law by announcing results before INEC does, or break the peace by claiming victory before the results are final.
“Everyone has a common interest in showing patience as INEC collates and announces the election results.”
