President Bola Tinubu, presidential candidates Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and Aare Adekunle Rufai Omo-Aje of the Action Alliance (AA), were among the political leaders who signed a national peace accord in Abuja on Tuesday, committing to peaceful, issue-based campaigns ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The ceremony, organized by the National Peace Committee (NPC), chaired by former Head of State Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, in partnership with The Kukah Center, was held at the International Conference Center in Abuja. It took place a day before the official start of campaigns for presidential and National Assembly elections on Wednesday, August 19, 2026.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, represented President Tinubu. The APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, also signed on behalf of the ruling party.
Other signatories included Adewole Adebayo of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), representatives of the Labor Party, ADC, Democratic Leadership Alliance, National Democratic Party, National Rescue Movement, Youth Party, Young Progressives Party, and Zenith Labor Party, among others.
The ADC presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, was absent.
Speaking on behalf of President Tinubu, Mr. Akume described the accord as an opportunity for parties to reaffirm their commitment to peaceful and transparent elections.
He commended the NPC, particularly Gen. Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto, and Bishop Matthew Kukah, for maintaining the peace initiative since 2014.
Akume noted improvements in Nigeria’s electoral process through technology, citing the Permanent Voter Card and BVAS. He cited governorship elections in Anambra, Ekiti, and Osun held between October 2025 and August 2026 as evidence that parties can win at the ballot box.
“Let us campaign on superior ideas. Let us debate issues and promote the best policies to expand opportunities for our people,” he said.
He added that the APC rejects violence, hate speech, misinformation—including AI-generated content—and incitement on social media.
“Win or lose, our country, Nigeria, must be the ultimate winner,” he declared.
The NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi, questioned the need for politicians to sign a peace agreement, arguing that those seeking public office should be demobilized without compulsion.
“The punishment is that Nigerians should not vote for them,” Obi said when asked what sanctions should apply to violators.
“You can’t answer ‘His Excellency’ without being an excellent person,” he added, urging voters to hold politicians accountable at the polls.
Reflecting on violence recorded during the Osun governorship election, he said: “We should comfort their families, and we should remain prayerful and conduct ourselves in a way that in our democracy, nobody needs to die for an election.”
Action Alliance presidential candidate, Aare Adekunle Rufai Omo-Aje, stated that the signing was a call to both political actors and institutions to protect the integrity of the 2027 elections.
Omo-Aje urged all parties to abide by the terms of the peace accord strictly and to run campaigns devoid of thuggery, hate speech, and religious or ethnic incitement.
He specifically called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remain an impartial umpire throughout the electoral process.
“INEC must resist pressure and ensure that the votes of Nigerians count. The Commission should provide a level playing field for all parties, big or small,” he said.
The AA candidate also charged security agencies to be professional and non-partisan in the discharge of their duties.
“Our security agencies must protect lives and property before, during, and after the elections. They must not be used to intimidate voters or favor any political party. Professionalism is key to credible elections,” Omo-Aje stressed.
He added that Nigeria’s democracy can only grow when institutions are allowed to function independently and when politicians prioritize the welfare of citizens over desperation for power.
The INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, said the signing came at a critical point in the electoral calendar.
He expressed concern over rising hate speech, misinformation, political polarization, and personal attacks in political discourse.
“Electoral contests in a constitutional democracy are not total wars; they are competitive job interviews before the electorate,” Mr. Amupitan said.
He urged candidates to focus campaigns on economic growth, insecurity, infrastructure, healthcare, education, and social inclusion.
The National Peace Committee said the accord is binding on all signatories and is part of efforts to prevent electoral competition from degenerating into violence, as seen in previous election cycles since 2015.
With campaigns for the presidential, National Assembly, governorship, and State House of Assembly elections set to begin on Wednesday, political parties are expected to promote their messages across Nigeria’s 36 states and the FCT.
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