Abuja: Presidential candidates and leadership of political parties contesting the 2027 general elections signed a Peace Accord in Abuja. They committed to peaceful, issue-based campaigns and pledged non-involvement in electoral violence before, during, and after the 2027 polls.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the Peace Accord was signed by several prominent presidential candidates, including President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, represented by Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume; Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, and Adewale Adebayo of the Social Democratic Party. Candidates for the governorship and National Assembly also participated. The National Peace Committee (NPC), chaired by former Head of State Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd.), organized the agreement to foster social cohesion, minimize political friction, and ensure democratic choices reflect the people’s will.
In his remarks, Abubakar, represented by a member of the NPC, Martin Agwai, urge
d political parties, candidates, campaign councils, and their spokespersons to focus on issues of significant concern to Nigerians. Since 2015, the NPC has facilitated 30 peace accords, five at the national level for the 2015, 2019, and 2023 general elections, and 25 at sub-national levels, including state off-cycle elections.
Abubakar highlighted that the issues-based peace accord, established in 2019, aimed to promote political campaigns and rallies centered on issues related to Nigeria rather than sentiment. Over the years, political campaigns and rallies have neglected party manifestos and programs, creating a platform for name-calling, personal insults, and character assassination. He noted this had degraded dignity and decency in public discourse, creating a toxic atmosphere with the potential to incite citizens against the state, other political parties, and candidates.
With the 2027 general election five months away and the official campaign commencement the following day, the NPC committed all poli
tical parties, party chairmen, candidates, and campaign spokespersons to peaceful political rallies devoid of incitement, personal insults, and abuse. Abubakar appealed to all political parties and stakeholders to campaign on issues significant to Nigerians, avoid spreading false and fake news, and promote respect and tolerance for differing opinions.
The Programme Officer at the Kukah Centre, Asabe Ndahi, presented findings from previous electoral cycles, indicating a 43 percent breach of the Peace Accord’s Clause 1, which commits parties to conduct issue-based campaigns. The clause prohibiting insults and violence was also breached, along with a 90 percent breach related to fake news and disinformation.
Ndahi added that out of Nigeria’s 36 states, 32 were affected by these violations, with Kaduna, Plateau, Kano, Lagos, Rivers, and Benue being the most impacted. She urged stakeholders, especially candidates and their supporters, to allow for peaceful campaigns and elections. Ndahi recommended political par
ties and candidates conduct issue-based campaigns and debate policies and ideas responsibly.
Ndahi also called on campaign teams and supporters to mobilize responsibly without causing violence or intimidation. She emphasized the importance of responsible messaging from party and candidate spokespersons, urging them to provide timely, verified information and avoid inflammatory statements. She also tasked media and civil society organizations with verifying information before amplification and conducting evidence-based advocacy.
Finally, Ndahi urged security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to maintain neutrality, impartiality, transparency, and consistent law enforcement while calling on Nigerians to conduct themselves peacefully.