Nigeria's 12 presidential candidates sign Abuja accord

Twelve Nigerian presidential candidates on Wednesday signed the Abuja Accord, a document in which all candidates for the 2015 election pledged to shun words that could incite violence before, during and after the elections.

President Goodluck Jonathan of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) signed the document alongside Gen. Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and 10 other candidates vying for Nigeria's presidency.

The candidates appended their signatures to the document after a one-day election sensitization workshop organized by the Inter Party Advisory Council in collaboration with some international development partners.

The Accord extracted promises from the candidates to take proactive measures to prevent electoral violence before, during and after the elections and re-affirmed their commitment to Nigeria's constitution.

It stated that the candidates should be desirous of promoting the unity and corporate existence of Nigeria as an indivisible entity and be determined to avoid any conduct or behavior that would endanger the political stability and national security of the country.

The candidates further pledged to place national interest above personal and partisan concerns and abide by all rules and regulations as laid down in the legal framework for elections in the country.

They then urged all government institutions to act and be seen to act with impartiality. Endite