Atiku, Makinde Absent as Presidential Candidates, Parties Sign Peace Pact

Political parties, presidential candidates and National Assembly candidates on Tuesday signed the First National Peace Accord on issue-based campaigns ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The agreement, organised by the National Peace Committee in partnership with The Kukah Centre, was signed in Abuja on the eve of the official commencement of public campaigns.

By signing the accord, the political actors pledged to reject violence, hate speech, personal attacks, misinformation and other conduct capable of undermining the electoral process.

However, the ceremony was notable for the absence of some prominent opposition figures, including former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, identified as presidential candidates of the African Democratic Congress and Nigeria Democratic Congress respectively.

President Bola Tinubu, who is seeking another term on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume.

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Joash Amupitan, attended the event alongside several political party leaders and presidential candidates.

The Chairman of the National Peace Committee, former Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar, was represented by former Chief of Defence Staff, General Martin Luther Agwai.

The ceremony took place one day before the statutory commencement of public campaigns and rallies for the 2027 elections under INEC’s revised timetable.

The presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, while governorship and State House of Assembly elections will hold on February 6.

Speaking on behalf of Tinubu, Akume urged political actors to place national interest above personal and partisan ambitions.

He warned against treating elections as a do-or-die affair and called on parties to compete through ideas and policies rather than ethnic or religious sentiments.

Tinubu also pledged that the APC would respect the provisions of the peace accord and reject violence, hate speech, misinformation and incitement.

He highlighted INEC’s adoption of technologies such as Permanent Voter Cards and the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System as developments that had strengthened confidence in elections.

Amupitan described the peace accord as more than a ceremonial event, saying it established ethical boundaries for the electoral contest before campaigns officially began.

He warned that recent monitoring by the National Peace Committee’s Election Security Information Hub had revealed an “alarming resurgence” of hate speech, toxic polarisation, misinformation and personality-driven political discourse.

The INEC chairman urged candidates to focus their campaigns on issues including the economy, national security, infrastructure, healthcare, education and social inclusion.

He described elections as competitive contests for public office rather than wars, saying Nigerians wanted solutions rather than insults.

Amupitan also cautioned parties against premature victory declarations and the circulation of unverified information through social media and artificial intelligence platforms.

He urged presidential candidates, party leaders, campaign organisations and online supporters to uphold the principles contained in the accord.

The INEC chairman further assured political parties that the electoral commission had no preferred candidate and would provide a level playing field for all contestants.