The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party, Adewole Adebayo, has described President Bola Tinubu’s absence from the signing of the 2027 Electoral Peace Accord as a mistake.

Adebayo said the President’s decision to send the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, to represent him sent the wrong signal about the government’s commitment to peaceful elections.

The SDP candidate said political parties and candidates should regard the peace accord not as a favour to the country but as a commitment to obey electoral laws, reject violence and conduct issue-based campaigns.

He said genuine electoral peace could only be achieved through justice, transparency and strict adherence to the law.

According to him, an electoral system in which the government does not interfere with the process, INEC operates independently and voters can freely choose their candidates would automatically produce peace.

Adebayo also called for greater independence for INEC, arguing that the electoral commission should not be financially or politically controlled by the executive.

He further urged the police, Department of State Services, civil defence and military to remain politically neutral during elections and avoid taking instructions that could influence the outcome.

The SDP candidate said candidates should avoid hate speech, ethnic or religious campaigning, misinformation, vote buying and the use of thugs.

He also criticised the absence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar from the ceremony, but said Tinubu’s failure to attend was more significant because he is the sitting President and has a greater constitutional responsibility to promote peaceful elections.

Adebayo urged Nigerians to participate actively in the 2027 elections and vote according to their conscience without selling their votes.