Leading presidential candidates and political party chairmen on Tuesday signed the first National Peace Accord for the 2027 general elections, committing to peaceful campaigns amid calls for stronger enforcement mechanisms.
The ceremony, organised by the National Peace Committee at the International Conference Centre in Abuja, saw representatives of major parties put pen to paper. President Bola Tinubu was represented by Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume, who signed alongside All Progressives Congress National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda.
Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, and Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress signed in person. Other participating parties included the Labour Party, Social Democratic Party, Youth Party and several smaller groups.
An official at the event described the signing as more than a formality. Parties and candidates were affirming that “this great nation must move forward in peace and harmony,” he said, stressing it was “not a mere ceremony” or simply “putting ink on paper.”
The National Peace Committee, chaired by former Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.), has overseen similar accords in previous election cycles aimed at reducing political violence.
However, Sowore voiced scepticism afterwards, labelling the exercise a “ritual.” He pointed to deaths during the recent Osun State governorship election, claiming those who signed earlier pacts later turned to violence.
“I don’t have faith in it. I’m bringing faith to the system. Those are two different things,” Sowore told reporters. “The people who signed the peace accord in Osun State killed 50 people after they signed the peace accord. So if you meant anything at all, why would you sign the peace accord and then go and carry a gun after that and kill 50 people?”
He urged the adoption of a “Justice Accord” that would impose sanctions on violators.
Obi, for his part, called for issue-based campaigning and reflection on the human cost of elections. “We have a peaceful, issue-based campaign. We must, for the sake of this country, ensure that our conduct reflects the office we’re seeking,” he said.
He also paid tribute to those who lost their lives in Osun. “Let us not forget those who died in ensuring that the election in Osun was achieved… We should visit them, console their families… and conduct ourselves in a way that in our democracy, nobody needs to die for an election. It is painful, and I wish it never happens again.”
The event included goodwill messages from Independent National Electoral Commission Chairman Professor Joash Amupitan, Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu, and ambassadors from the European Union and Switzerland. National Assembly and governorship candidates also signed the document.
