2019 Elections: US calls on candidates to honour peace accord

The United States (US) Ambassador to Nigeria, W. Stuart Symington has urged all candidates in the 2019 general elections to honour the peace accord they signed.

Presidential candidates had, ahead of the elections, signed a peace accord pledging to ensure a violence-free election.

The governorship candidates also signed peace accord in their states ahead of the elections.

Symington, in his statement on the Nigerian elections, urged the contestants to convince their supporters to refrain from using force or violence to interfere with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“No one should break the law by announcing results before INEC does, or break the peace by claiming victory before the final results. Everyone has a common interest in showing patience as INEC collates and announces the election results,” he urged.

While he congratulated millions of Nigerians who stood patiently to vote last Saturday as well as those who worked together with INEC to conduct the elections; he stated that many observer groups in their preliminary reports have noted that the election was predominantly peaceful.

“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,” he said while he sympathized with families of those who lost their lives.