Tinubu, Obi, Sowore sign peace accord ahead of 2027 election

Peace accord signed in Abuja

Presidential candidates and national chairpersons of political parties participating in Nigeria's 2027 general elections on Tuesday signed a national peace accord in Abuja, committing themselves to peaceful and issue-based campaigns. The ceremony was held at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, as reported by TheCable, and under the auspices of the National Peace Committee (NPC), chaired by former Head of State Abdulsalami Abubakar, in partnership with The Kukah Centre, according to AllAfrica.

President Bola Tinubu was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, who delivered his remarks. The APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, also signed the accord, as did representatives of other political parties and candidates. Among those present were Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC); Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress (AAC); and Adewole Adebayo of the Social Democratic Party (SDP). Other parties represented included the Labour Party, Democratic Leadership Alliance, National Democratic Party, National Rescue Movement, Youth Party, Young Progressives Party, and Zenith Labour Party, according to AllAfrica.

Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), was not present at the event, AllAfrica reported. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman, Joash Amupitan, attended the ceremony.

Calls for issue-based campaigns

Speaking on behalf of President Tinubu, Akume praised the leadership of the National Peace Committee, including Abdulsalami Abubakar, Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar, Sultan of Sokoto, and Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, for convening the occasion and sustaining the peace initiative since 2014. He 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 highlighted progress in electoral transparency and election management, particularly through the use of technology, noting that INEC had recorded "tremendous improvement with every election cycle." He cited permanent voter cards and the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) as measures strengthening election integrity, and pointed to governorship elections in Anambra, Ekiti, and Osun between October 2025 and August 2026 as evidence that parties can win through the process.

Akume urged political actors to avoid divisive rhetoric and the use of religion and ethnicity as tools for seeking power, saying the accord was a pledge to place national interest above personal ambition. The APC, he said, rejected violence, hate speech, misinformation — including AI-generated content — and incitement on social media.

INEC Chairman Joash Amupitan expressed concern over hate speech, misinformation, polarisation, and personal attacks in electoral campaigns. He urged candidates to focus on economic growth, insecurity, infrastructure, healthcare, education, and social inclusion.

"Electoral contests in a constitutional democracy are not total wars; they are competitive job interviews before the electorate," Amupitan said.

Obi and Sowore express reservations

Despite the formal commitment, some signatories voiced scepticism about the accord's effectiveness. AllAfrica reported that Peter Obi questioned the need for politicians to sign a peace agreement, saying conduct should be demonstrated without compulsion. He urged Nigerians not to vote for anyone who violates the principles of the accord.

"The punishment is that Nigerians should not vote for them," Obi said. He called for a credible election where votes count, adding: "You can't answer 'His Excellency' without being an excellent person." On the deaths during the 15 August Osun State governorship election, Obi 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."

Obi, who according to TheCable said he was participating in the political process because he wanted to change it, said he had no fears ahead of the 2027 election.

Omoyele Sowore dismissed the accord as a "ritual," referring to previous peace agreements that he said did not stop violence. He cited violence and deaths during the Osun State election and called for a "Justice Accord" with sanctions for violators, as reported by AllAfrica.

Timeline for campaigns

INEC's timetable for the 2027 general elections sets Wednesday, 19 August 2026, as the commencement date for campaigns for the presidential and National Assembly elections, making Tuesday's signing the final major peace-building activity before formal electioneering begins, according to AllAfrica. Amupitan said campaigns begin Wednesday, 19 August.

The accord was presented as a commitment to uphold the Constitution, the Electoral Act, INEC guidelines, and other laws. While the agreement was presented as a commitment to peaceful elections, Sowore's expressed scepticism about its ability to prevent electoral violence highlights a continuing debate over enforcement mechanisms.