By Oluwakemi Kindness
Political parties and candidates have signed the first National Peace Accord on issue-based campaigns ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The parties pledged to shun violence, hate speech, misinformation, personal attacks and other conduct capable of undermining the electoral process.
The accord was signed in Abuja on Tuesday at a ceremony organised by the National Peace Committee in partnership with The Kukah Centre.
The event came barely 24 hours before the statutory commencement of public campaigns and rallies for the elections.
The ceremony brought together the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof Joash Amupitan; political party leaders; presidential and National Assembly candidates; the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, and members of the diplomatic community.
Those who signed the accord included President Bola Tinubu, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume; Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress; Social Democratic Party candidate Adewole Adebayo and African Action Congress candidate Omoyele Sowore.
Other participants included APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda; PRP presidential candidate Donald Duke; Labour Party candidate Chibuzor Okereke; Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin and PRP National Chairman Hakeem Baba-Ahmed.
Federal and state lawmakers, party leaders and other candidates also attended the ceremony.
However, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde were absent.
Atiku is the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, while Makinde is the presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples’ Movement.
The Chairman of the National Peace Committee, former Head of State Abdulsalami Abubakar, was represented by former Chief of Defence Staff, Martin Agwai.
The accord comes amid heightened political activities ahead of the 2027 elections, with the economy, insecurity, unemployment, poverty, infrastructure and electoral credibility expected to feature prominently in campaigns.
Under INEC’s revised timetable, the presidential and National Assembly elections will hold on January 16, 2027, while governorship and State House of Assembly elections are scheduled for February 6.
Tinubu Urges Issue-Based Campaigns
Speaking through Akume, Tinubu urged political parties and candidates to place national interest above personal and partisan ambitions.
He warned that the struggle for political power must not become a do-or-die affair.
The President also cautioned politicians against using ethnic and religious sentiments to mobilise voters.
He called on candidates to focus on competing ideas, policies and programmes.
“Let us campaign on superior ideas. Let us debate issues and promote the best policies to expand opportunities for our people,” Tinubu said.
He acknowledged that political campaigns would naturally produce disagreements and intense competition but warned against actions capable of threatening national unity.
APC Rejects Violence, Hate Speech
Tinubu said the APC remained committed to the provisions of the peace accord.
He said the party rejected violence, hate speech, misinformation, incitement and digital manipulation.
“Our party rejects violence, hate speech, the spread of misinformation, including through artificial intelligence, and all forms of incitement, especially via social media,” he said.
Tinubu also urged other political parties and candidates to commit themselves to peaceful and transparent elections.
He commended the National Peace Committee for its interventions in Nigeria’s electoral process since 2014.
The President also cited the use of technology, including Permanent Voter Cards and the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, as improvements that have strengthened confidence in elections.
He further pointed to recent off-cycle governorship elections in Anambra, Ekiti and Osun states as evidence of progress in electoral administration and voter participation.
