Buhari is the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, while Atiku is the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Candidates of the other political parties vying for the post of the president also joined in the exercise held in Abuja.

The initiative is that of the National Peace Committee headed by former Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar.

Speaking at the occasion, Buhari who expressed support for a free and fair election, said the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and the security agencies had promised to ensure peaceful conduct of the election.

He appealed to youths not to allow themselves to be used to cause havoc during and after the exercise.

He called on Nigerians to pray for the country over the election, stressing that the interest of the country should be paramount.

While borrowing from the words of former President Goodluck Jonathan that his ambition was not worth the blood of an Nigerian, Atiku in his statement called on security agencies and INEC to ensure that the elections were free and fair.

He told Buhari that the votes of every Nigerian should be made to count in the presidential election and the others.

“We must abide by the will of the people,” he said.

Present at the occasion among others were former Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar; former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd); INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu;  Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Mathew Kukah, and Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Patricia Scotland.

In her message at the occasion, Scotland appealed to all the parties to ensure peaceful, free, fair, and credible election in the country.

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He was invited by the National Peace Committee to witness the signing of the peace accord which will hold on Wednesday.

His presence is to promote peace in the coming election.

He was also to hold a meeting with the two candidates.

But in a statement by his spokesperson, Angel Ureña, on Monday, Clinton said he would not attend the signing of the document to avoid his presence from being politicized.

That, according to him, would be against the intention of his presence.

He expressed his support for the peace initiative of the General Abdulsalami Abubakar-led committee.

The statement by his spokesperson reads:  “President Clinton appreciates General Abdulsalami Abubakar and the Nigerian National Peace Committee’s invitation to travel to Nigeria.

“He is incredibly supportive and respectful of the committee’s efforts, of the election process, and of the work being done to try to ensure a peaceful, free, fair, and transparent outcome.

“This is a crucial time in Nigeria, and President Clinton is hopeful that the election’s outcome reflects the will of the Nigerian people.

“Over the course of the last several days, and after various conversations with the different stakeholders, it’s become apparent that President Clinton’s visit to Nigeria has the potential to be politicized in a way that is not in line with the goals of the committee. Therefore, he will not be traveling to Abuja.

“He looks forward to talking to both candidates and General Abubakar this week.”

The Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Baroness Patricia Scotland, has also been invited for the same purpose and is expected to deliver a goodwill message.

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