Presidential candidates and national chairmen of major political parties have signed the first National Peace Accord ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 General election at the Bola Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja.
The accord was organised by the National Peace Committee, chaired by former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, in partnership with The Kukah Centre, led by Catholic Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah. It is aimed at promoting peaceful, credible and issue-based political campaigns while discouraging violence, intimidation and inflammatory rhetoric during the electoral process.
Among those who signed the accord on Tuesday were President Bola Tinubu, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume; presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi; African Action Congress candidate, Omoyele Sowore; and Peoples Redemption Party candidate, Donald Duke, alongside representatives of other political parties.
The ceremony was attended by the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan; Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu; Party Chairmen and other political stakeholders. Goodwill messages were also delivered by representatives of the European Union and Switzerland.
The SGF, speaking on behalf of President Tinubu, praised the leadership of the National Peace Committee, including former Head of State Abdulsalami Abubakar, Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, and Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, for convening the event and sustaining the peace initiative since 2014.
Akume said; “Nigeria’s elections had continued to generate anxiety because of the intense competition for political power.”
“Since 1999, every election period has brought its share of anxiety because of the nature of our politics and the intense competition for power by political actors,” he said.
Akume, however, said the country had made progress in electoral transparency and election management, particularly through the use of technology.
The INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan urged political parties and candidates to make the 2027 election campaign a “marketplace of ideas” rather than a “theatre of war”.
Addressing the presidential candidates and party leaders at the event, Amupitan described the document as more than a ceremonial agreement, saying it represented a commitment to the Nigerian people.
Speaking at the event, Peter Obi called on political actors to ensure that their campaigns remained peaceful and focused on issues affecting Nigerians.
He also urged “politicians to conduct themselves in a manner worthy of the offices they seek, stressing that no Nigerian should lose their life because of an election.”
In his remarks, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, founder of The Kukah Centre, said the signing of the accord represented a commitment by political leaders to place the national interest above personal ambitions.
“The signing is intended to provide a framework for peaceful political engagement as campaigns and other political activities approach,” he said.
Kukah further appreciated the European Union for supporting the implementation of the Peace Accord and efforts to maintain peace during political activities. He also commended the staff of the Centre for their role in ensuring the smooth conduct of the event.
A second phase of the Peace Accord is expected to take place after the 2027 elections.
The signing came one day before the scheduled commencement of campaigns for the presidential and National Assembly elections, placing renewed emphasis on the responsibility of political parties and candidates to prevent electoral violence and promote peaceful democratic competition.
