ABUJA, JANUARY 16, 2015 (CISA) – Kofi Annan on Wednesday January 14 oversaw the adoption of an inter-party agreement on non-violence and the acceptance of the results of the upcoming elections by several presidential candidates.
“I am pleased that all parties are participating in this responsible initiative,” said Kofi Annan in a statement sent to CISA by The Kofi Annan Foundation.
“It will reassure Nigerians and their international partners who are concerned about potential election-related violence and its consequences for the country’s prospects. What happens in Nigeria affects all of Africa,” he added.
The signing of the agreement took place in Abuja in the presence of the former UN Chief and involved Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, former President General Muhammadu Buhari and nine other presidential candidates.
The accord was the highlight of a mission undertaken by Annan to support peaceful elections with integrity in Nigeria in 2015.
Annan further underlined the role that political actors, civil society, the security services and the general public have to play in ensuring that the elections are non-violent and acceptable to the people of Nigeria.
He also urged all stakeholders to make these elections “about the issues rather than the personalities, or the identities of the candidates.”
The inter-party workshop was chaired by Chief Emeka Anyaoku, former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, and attended by the chairmen of the two main parties, and other candidates running in the legislative and gubernatorial elections, as well as the diplomatic community and the media.
The Kofi Annan Foundation, which Mr Annan chairs, focuses its work on peace and security, sustainable development, human rights and to the rule of law with the aim of helping to create a fairer, more secure world.
The presidential and National assembly elections are scheduled for February 14, and the governorship and state houses of assembly elections for February 28.
