Abuja: President Bola Tinubu has pledged his commitment and that of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to peaceful, transparent, and issue-based campaigns for the upcoming 2027 elections. Tinubu emphasized the importance of maintaining a peaceful election environment while warning political stakeholders against violence, hate speech, misinformation, and the misuse of artificial intelligence-generated content during the election campaign.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, President Tinubu made these remarks in Abuja while signing the National Peace Accord alongside other political parties and candidates ahead of the presidential election. Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume, Tinubu urged all political actors to embrace the accord, stressing that elections should not be a ‘do-or-die affair’ and that Nigeria’s interests should be prioritized above personal ambitions.
The President encouraged political actors to reject ethnic and religious sentiments, advocating instead for campaigns centered on competing ideas, policies, and development programs. He stated that such an approach would accelerate Nigeria’s journey towards becoming a first-world country. Tinubu commended the National Peace Committee (NPC) for its sustained efforts towards peaceful elections since 2014 and recognized notable figures such as retired Head of State Abdulsalami Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, and Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of Sokoto Diocese for their contributions.
Tinubu highlighted significant improvements in Nigeria’s electoral process since the return to democratic governance in 1999, attributing some progress to technological innovations introduced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). He noted that tools like Permanent Voter Cards and the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System have helped curb electoral manipulation and malpractice, thus restoring power to the voters.
He reflected on the three off-cycle elections conducted in Anambra, Ekiti, and Osun between October 2025 and August 2026, where different political parties emerged victorious, demonstrating the competitiveness of Nigeria’s electoral process. Local and international observers described these elections as free, credible, and transparent.
The signing of the Peace Accord was described by Tinubu as a solemn commitment by political leaders to place national interest above partisan and personal ambitions. He called on Nigerians, civil society organizations, foreign partners, and the media to join in building a stronger, more vibrant democratic society through peaceful political participation.
Tinubu warned against the misuse of social media for spreading incitement, misinformation, hate speech, or manipulated artificial intelligence-generated materials. He urged political parties and candidates to ensure their campaigns strengthened rather than undermined Nigeria’s social fabric, with the ultimate objective being a peaceful, united, and prosperous Nigeria.