By Lizzy Chirkpi
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other major political actors on Tuesday signed the first National Peace Accord ahead of the 2027 general elections, pledging to promote peaceful, issue-based campaigns and uphold the integrity of the electoral process.
Tinubu was represented at the signing ceremony in Abuja by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, who signed the accord alongside the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda.
The ceremony, organised by the National Peace Committee (NPC), chaired by former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, was held at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.
The accord was signed a day before the official commencement of campaigns for the 2027 general elections.
According to the revised timetable of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, while the governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will take place on February 6, 2027.
Among the presidential candidates who signed the accord in person were Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress (AAC).
Representatives of other political parties, including the Labour Party, Social Democratic Party, Young Progressives Party, Youth Party, National Rescue Movement and Zenith Labour Party, also participated in the exercise.
The agreement commits political parties and candidates to peaceful conduct and issue-based campaigns while discouraging violence, hate speech, personal attacks, misinformation and other actions capable of undermining the electoral process.
Speaking at the ceremony, Obi urged political actors to focus their campaigns on the challenges confronting Nigerians rather than resorting to personal attacks.
“We have a peaceful, issue-based campaign. We must, for the sake of this country, ensure that our conduct reflects the office we’re seeking, our behaviour,” he said.
Obi also urged politicians to remember those who lost their lives during the August 15 Osun governorship election, stressing that no Nigerian should lose their life because of an election.
“In our democracy, nobody needs to die for an election. It is painful, and I wish it never happens again,” he said.
However, the signing was not without criticism.
Sowore described the Peace Accord as a “ritual” and questioned its effectiveness in preventing political violence, particularly following the recent Osun governorship election.
“I don’t have faith in it. I’m bringing faith to the system. Those are two different things,” Sowore said.
He argued that the agreement should be backed by enforceable sanctions against politicians who violate its provisions, proposing what he called a “Justice Accord”.
Sowore alleged that some politicians who had signed previous peace agreements were subsequently involved in violence in Osun State.
“What will you be expecting after signing today’s peace accord? We conclude the ritual and move on to campaigning,” he said.
The National Peace Committee, established in 2014 ahead of the 2015 general elections, has facilitated similar agreements during previous election cycles in an effort to reduce political tensions and promote peaceful elections.
The 2027 accord comes at a critical juncture, as political parties formally enter the campaign season amid heightened competition and concerns over electoral violence.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde were among prominent political figures reported absent from Tuesday’s ceremony, while the African Democratic Congress (ADC) was also notably absent.
The ceremony featured goodwill messages from the INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan; Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu; European Union Ambassador to Nigeria, Gautier Mignot; and Swiss Ambassador, Patrick Egloff.
The signing brought together presidential, governorship and National Assembly candidates, party chairmen and other political stakeholders, who pledged to promote peaceful democratic competition ahead of the 2027 elections.