Presidential candidates and political parties contesting the 2027 general elections on Tuesday signed the first National Peace Accord, committing themselves to issue-based campaigns and pledging to shun violence, hate speech, personal attacks and misinformation.
The agreement was signed in Abuja under the auspices of the National Peace Committee, in partnership with The Kukah Centre, a day before the official commencement of campaigns for the presidential and National Assembly elections.
However, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde were absent from the ceremony. Atiku is the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), while Makinde is the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
President Bola Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, was also not physically present. He was represented at the event by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, alongside APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda.
Other presidential candidates who participated included Labour Party’s Peter Obi, African Action Congress candidate Omoyele Sowore and Social Democratic Party candidate Adewole Adebayo, among others. Several political party chairmen also attended the ceremony.
The accord commits the political actors to peaceful and issue-driven campaigns, respect for electoral institutions and the rejection of conduct capable of undermining the electoral process.
The National Peace Committee, chaired by former Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar, said the initiative was aimed at promoting peaceful political engagement as parties begin their campaigns for the 2027 elections.
Speaking at the ceremony, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Professor Joash Amupitan urged candidates and political parties to focus their campaigns on issues affecting Nigerians rather than personal attacks, character assassination and inflammatory rhetoric.
Representing Tinubu, Akume called on political actors to place national interest above personal and partisan ambitions, stressing that elections should not be treated as a do-or-die affair.
He commended the National Peace Committee for its efforts to promote peaceful elections and urged political leaders to uphold the commitments contained in the accord.
The ceremony comes as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections, with campaigns for the presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled to formally commence on Wednesday, August 19, 2026. INEC has fixed January 16, 2027, for the presidential and National Assembly elections, while governorship and State House of Assembly elections are scheduled for February 6, 2027.
The signing marks the first National Peace Accord involving presidential candidates and political parties ahead of the 2027 elections, with stakeholders hoping the commitment will help prevent violence and other forms of electoral malpractice during the campaign and voting periods.
