The Presidency has refuted a claim by the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, Matthew Kukah, that President Bola Tinubu did not sign the peace accord during the 2023 presidential election.

Kukah on Sunday, during the Edo election security town hall meeting in Benin, said Tinubu snubbed the 2023 peace accord.

Reacting to Kukah’s claim on Tuesday via his X handle, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga wrote, “Contrary to the claims by Bishop Kukah, President Tinubu signed the two peace accords preceding his election in 2023.“The first accord, committing the candidates to a free and credible election in the country, was signed on September 29, 2022. Vice President Kashim Shettima represented Tinubu.

“The second agreement, signed on February 23, 2023, was for the candidates to accept the election outcome. Tinubu signed.”

It would be recalled that in the build-up to the February 25 presidential election, political parties’ candidates gathered at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, to sign the peace pact for a free and credible election in the country.

The Labour Party (LP) candidate, Peter Obi and his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar, New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) flagbearer, Rabiu Kwankwaso, and the flagbearer of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore were all present, while Tinubu was said to be away in the United Kingdom.

Another peace accord was signed on February 23, 2023, which was for the candidates to accept the outcome of the election.

President Tinubu was present at the signing of the second pact.