2027: Abdulsalami Panel Warns Tinubu, Atiku, Obi, Others Against Inflammatory Campaigns

The National Peace Committee, chaired by former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, has warned President Bola Tinubu, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi and other political actors against inflammatory and inciting campaigns ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The warning was contained in a statement jointly signed by Abdulsalami and the committee’s convener, Most Rev. Matthew Kukah, on Monday.

The committee said its Election Security Information Hub recorded 60 election-related incidents across the country between August 19 and September 19, including political violence, intimidation, threats, attacks on political activities and misinformation.

Misinformation and disinformation accounted for the largest share, with 24 incidents representing 40 per cent of the total. This was followed by attacks and disruptions affecting political activities and assets, with 13 incidents.

The committee also recorded 10 cases of political intimidation and threats, six incidents involving political violence and thuggery, and four cases involving inflammatory statements.

It said the figures indicated growing deviations from the peaceful and issue-based campaigns envisaged under the National Peace Accord signed by political parties and candidates.

The committee urged political parties, candidates and their supporters to immediately stop false, inflammatory and inciting communication, verify information before publication and prevent supporters from engaging in intimidation, unlawful conduct or disruption.

It also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to strengthen monitoring of political campaigns and ensure compliance with the Electoral Act 2026 and relevant regulations.

The committee urged security agencies, particularly the Nigeria Police Force, to intensify prompt, impartial and evidence-based investigations into electoral offences and political violence.

The warning comes weeks after major political parties and candidates signed the National Peace Accord ahead of the 2027 elections, committing themselves to peaceful and issue-based campaigns.

The committee said every candidate should be able to campaign peacefully, every political party should be able to organise lawfully, and every citizen should be free to make a political choice without intimidation or coercion.

The National Peace Committee said it would continue monitoring political developments and called on all stakeholders to uphold the commitments made under the peace accord.