Isaac Samuel
The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, and some other major political figures were absent on Tuesday as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Peter Obi and other presidential candidates signed the National Peace Accord ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The accord, signed a day before the formal commencement of campaigns, commits political parties and candidates to peaceful, issue-based campaigns and respect for the electoral process.
The ceremony was held at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, Abuja, and organised by the National Peace Committee in partnership with The Kukah Centre.
While Tinubu was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, Obi and other presidential candidates were physically present to sign the pact.
The absence of Atiku, who is seeking the presidency on the platform of the African Democratic Congress, was notable, particularly as the accord brought together political parties and candidates ahead of what is expected to be a keenly contested election.
Those who signed included the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi; presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore; presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Adewole Adebayo; presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Donald Duke; presidential candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), Ambassador Aliyu Bin Abbas; and Labour Party presidential candidate, Chibuzo Okereke.
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was represented by Tinubu, through Akume, while the party’s National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, was also present.
Also at the event were Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin, representing Senate President Godswill Akpabio; and Ado Doguwa, representing Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas.
The Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, was represented by Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Umar Shehu, while INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, and Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah were also present.
The signing came against the backdrop of growing political tension ahead of the 2027 elections and concerns over violence, hate speech, misinformation and personal attacks during campaigns.
In his address, Tinubu urged political parties and candidates to shun violence, hate speech and divisive rhetoric, declaring that the 2027 election must not be treated as a “do-or-die affair.”
The President, represented by Akume, commended the National Peace Committee, particularly its Chairman and former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, as well as the Sultan of Sokoto and Bishop Kukah, for sustaining efforts to promote peaceful and issue-based campaigns.
Tinubu said Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999 had been accompanied by anxiety during election periods because of the intense competition for political power.
He, however, said the country had recorded improvements in electoral management and transparency, particularly through technological innovations introduced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
According to him, the Permanent Voter’s Card, Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and electronic card readers had helped reduce electoral manipulation, ballot stuffing and snatching.
“These improvements have restored power to the voters who are now sure that their vote will count. Politicians are now more accountable to the people because votes count,” he said.
Tinubu also cited the recent governorship elections in Anambra, Ekiti and Osun states as evidence of Nigeria’s growing capacity to conduct elections with greater transparency and credibility.
He urged political parties to campaign on policies and ideas rather than ethnic and religious sentiments.
“Let us campaign on superior ideas. Let us debate issues and promote the best policies to expand opportunities for our people and accelerate Nigeria’s journey from a developing nation to a first-world country,” he said.
Tinubu pledged the commitment of the All Progressives Congress to the Peace Accord, saying the party rejected violence, hate speech, misinformation and incitement, including through artificial intelligence and social media.
He said political actors must remember that the survival and unity of Nigeria were more important than partisan victory.
“Let us remember that elections are not a do-or-die affair. We are partners in the project of nation-building. Win or lose, our country, Nigeria, must be the ultimate winner,” he said.
Speaking with journalists on the sidelines of the event, Obi said he had no fear about the 2027 election but urged Nigerians to ensure that their votes counted.
“I have no fear. I still have to say that, please, for the sake of the children of Nigeria, can we have an election where people’s votes will count?” he said.
The NDC candidate said political actors must ensure that their conduct reflected the offices they were seeking.
“I expect that we have a peaceful, issue-based campaign. We must, for the sake of this country, ensure that our conduct reflects the office we are seeking, our behaviour, and that we do the right things and campaign on issues that Nigerians are going through today,” he said.
The SDP presidential candidate, Adewole Adebayo, expressed reservations about the effectiveness of the accord, arguing that electoral peace could not exist without justice and respect for democratic principles.
He accused the government of intimidating the opposition and argued that institutions of state had a greater responsibility to guarantee peaceful elections.
“If the President can keep to his oath of office and govern the country according to the law, and make sure that all enforcement agencies, INEC and all the organisations and institutions of government play their role, there will be no need for signing this,” Adebayo said.
He said previous agreements had been violated by political actors, describing his participation in the ceremony as an obligation.
The AAC presidential candidate, Sowore, was also sceptical about the accord, describing it as a ritual and arguing that previous agreements had failed to prevent electoral violence.
“I don’t have faith in it. I’m bringing faith to the system. Those are two different things,” he said.
Sowore also called for a Justice Accord with enforceable consequences for violations of the peace agreement.
Abdulsalami warns against character assassination
The Chairman of the National Peace Committee, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, warned political parties and candidates against character assassination, personal attacks, insults and inflammatory rhetoric.
Abdulsalami, who was represented by former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Martin Luther Agwai, said the committee had facilitated 30 peace accords since 2015, including five at the national level and 25 at the subnational level.
He said the issues-based Peace Accord was established in 2019 to encourage parties and candidates to compete on the basis of ideas, policies and programmes.
According to him, political campaigns had increasingly abandoned party manifestos in favour of name-calling, personal insults and character assassination.
He urged candidates, campaign councils and party spokespersons to campaign on issues of concern to Nigerians and avoid fake news, personal attacks and insults.
INEC promises neutrality
The INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, assured political parties that the electoral commission would remain neutral in the 2027 elections.
“Let me state unequivocally that INEC has no interest in who wins or loses any election. The Commission does not have a candidate, nor does it favour any political platform,” he said.
