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Nigeria's presidential candidates sign peace deal ahead of polls

Xinhua, March 26, 2015 Adjust font size:

Two main presidential candidates in Nigeria's forthcoming elections signed a second peace accord on Thursday, to prevent violence by their supporters during and after the polls.

Nigeria's incumbent leader Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammad Buhari, his main challenger, issued a joint statement after signing the peace accord facilitated by former military ruler Abdulsalam Abubakar in the Nigerian capital.

"We meet today to renew our pledge for peaceful elections. We therefore call on all fellow citizens of our dear country, and our supporters, to refrain from violence or any acts that may in any way jeopardize our collective vision of a free, fair and credible election," the statement said.

Both Jonathan and Buhari, respectively the presidential candidates of Nigeria's ruling Peoples Democratic Party and the opposition All Progressives Congress party, had signed a peace pact, later dubbed Abuja Accord, on Jan. 14.

The first peace pact was signed ahead of the polls earlier slated for Feb. 14 but rescheduled due to security concerns.

In 2011, more than 800 people were killed in Nigeria after election results were disputed.

The presidential election, adjudged by analysts to be the toughest in Nigeria since 1999, will be conducted Saturday. Endi