Foreign countries have advised political parties to accept the results of the elections that will be announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
They also urged parties to channel their grievances through appropriate channels after the election.
This was contained in a joint-statement from the Diplomatic Missions of the United Kingdom, the United States, Japan, Canada and Norway on Wednesday.
Candidates of various political parties vying for presidency on Wednesday signed the second Peace Accord organised by the Abdulsalami Abubakar-led Peace Committee.
In attendance were presidential candidates of the Labour Party, Peter Obi; the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar; the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu; the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore; and the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Rabiu Kwankwaso, among others.
According to the Diplomatic Missions, the signing of Peace Accord was vital for Nigeria’s stability and democratic consolidation.
The foreign countries also have warned political parties to respect electoral laws and eschew violence as they sign the second peace accord.
It read in part “The Diplomatic Missions of the United States, Australia, Japan, Norway, Canada and the United Kingdom in Nigeria welcome the signing of the second Peace Accord by the candidate parties competing in the upcoming Presidential Election of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and fully commit to supporting all efforts that will ensure the Nigerian people decide who wins the election.
“We believe it is vital for Nigeria’s stability and democratic consolidation that the process is conducted and concluded safely, fairly and credibly. We encourage all actors to intervene proactively to calm any tensions and avoid any violence in the periods before, during and after the elections.”
