President Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, and African Action Congress (AAC) candidate Omoyele Sowore have signed a national peace accord ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.

The agreement was signed on Tuesday at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja during a ceremony attended by political party leaders and candidates contesting presidential, governorship and National Assembly seats.

Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Amupitan, was also present at the event.

Tinubu was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, who delivered the President’s message at the ceremony.

Akume commended the National Peace Committee, particularly its Chairman and former Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar, alongside the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, and Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, for sustaining the peace initiative since 2014.

He acknowledged the tension that often accompanies Nigeria’s electoral contests but noted that improvements in election management and the adoption of technology had helped to strengthen public confidence in the electoral process.

“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,” Akume said.

He said the peace accord represented a commitment by political actors to place the national interest above personal and partisan ambitions.

“We have gathered today to commit ourselves to a peaceful and transparent electoral process. Signing this peace accord is a pledge to the Nigerian people that we as leaders will put the nation’s interest above personal ambition,” he said.

The SGF urged political parties and candidates to conduct their campaigns responsibly, warning against inflammatory statements and the exploitation of ethnic and religious sentiments for political gain.

“We may exchange occasional political jabs, but as members of the same household, nation and family, we must never resort to divisive, primordial sentiments, religion and ethnicity as tools for seeking power,” he said.

Akume also urged candidates to focus their campaigns on policies, programmes and competing ideas, stressing that political victory must not come at the expense of national unity.

“Election is not a do-or-die affair, win or lose, our country Nigeria must be the ultimate winner,” he said.

Obi: I Am Not Afraid of 2027 Election

Speaking at the ceremony, Obi said his decision to participate in the 2027 electoral process was motivated by his desire to contribute to changing Nigeria’s political system.

“Because I want to change the process, I have to go through it. You can’t answer his excellency without being an excellent person. The process that will make you answer his excellency should be excellent,” Obi said.

The NDC presidential candidate said he was confident about the 2027 election and had no fears ahead of the contest.

“I don’t have any fears ahead of the election,” he said.

Obi also urged Nigerians to hold political candidates accountable to the commitments contained in the peace accord, stressing the importance of peaceful participation and responsible leadership throughout the electoral process.