Abuja- Political parties in Nigeria on Saturday in Abuja reaffirmed their commitment to maintain their stance for peaceful and non-violent elections as contained in the Abuja Peace Accord which they all signed.
The parties, represented by the directors general of their campaign groups disclosed this while fielding questions at the Town Hall Meeting organised by the Nigeria Elections Debate Group (NEDG) to herald the 2015 elections debate.
Mr Tunde Adeniran, the Director-General of the campaign organisation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said the party was founded on ideologies of peace and unity of Nigeria.
He said the party’s flag bearer in the presidential election, President Goodluck Jonathan, had proven over time to be a peace loving man.
He said that the party had always been committed to peace and unity in Nigeria and would continue to do so.
He added that “President Goodluck Jonathan is a non-violent man and he had always said that his re-election is not a do or die affair and not worth the blood of any Nigerian.
“He always caution party members to ensure that they conduct themselves in a non-violent way.
“We will conduct all our campaigns in a non-violent way.’’
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For the representative of the United Peoples Party (UPP), Mr Chambers Okorie, he said INEC, security agencies and the judiciary should be made to also sign the accord as part of the entire pre-election and post-election processes.
He acknowledged that the accord was indeed necessary at the time it was signed as the polity was already being heated up by electioneering campaigns of various political parties.
“We the UPP have never used derogatory words on any party or any candidate and we always educate our members to be calm and not engage in any actions that will be provocative.
“You do not need to call names while carrying out campaigns.’’
The representative of Hope Party, Mr Haruna Yahaya, expressed concern as to who would be in charge of implementing the accord.
He said it was one thing for an accord to be signed but another for it to be implemented and therefore queried whose place it was to implement the pact.
Yahaya, who is the Vice Presidential candidate of the party in the coming elections, said some of the political parties have already violated the principles of the accord.
He added that “it is now left for Nigerians to decide whether to vote those who have already violated the accord or those who are committed to the accord.’’
The participating political parties also responded to questions ranging from party ideologies, quality of government they hope to offer, campaigning based on issues to eliminate hate, as well as running an all inclusive government.
Earlier, the Chairman of NEDG, Mr Taiwo Alimi, who declared the debate open, gave the history of the elections debate group, saying it had participated in organising election debates in and out of the country.
He said the debate was to allow the electorate to hear from the candidates what they planned to do for the people if elected and for the electorate to ask the candidates where necessary.
In his remark, the Chairman, Board of Directors of the NEDG and Director-General of NTA, Mr Sola Omole, thanked the participating parties for coming and prayed for more participation in future.
He said that the governorship, vice presidential and presidential debates have been scheduled to hold on dates that would be announced soon. (NAN)
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