Nigerian presidential candidates sign peace accord ahead of 2027 election campaigns

Ahead of the 2027 general elections, presidential candidates and national chairpersons of Nigerian political parties have signed a national peace accord in Abuja. The agreement, facilitated by the National Peace Committee (NPC) chaired by former Head of State Abdulsalami Abubakar and The Kukah Centre, commits the signatories to conduct peaceful and issue-based campaigns as electioneering officially begins.

The ceremony, held at the International Conference Centre, saw representatives from various parties, including Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress and Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has set August 19, 2026, as the commencement date for campaigns, making the accord signing a crucial pre-election peace-building measure.

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The peace accord is an opportunity for political parties and candidates to reaffirm their commitment to peaceful and transparent elections.

President Bola Tinubu, the candidate for the All Progressives Congress (APC), was notably absent but was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume. Akume affirmed the APC's commitment to peaceful and transparent elections, commending the NPC's sustained peace initiative. He also highlighted improvements in Nigeria's electoral process, citing technological advancements like permanent voter cards and the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) as enhancers of election integrity.

The accord obliges political actors to uphold the Constitution, the Electoral Act, and INEC guidelines. The NPC has a history of facilitating similar agreements to mitigate electoral competition from escalating into violence and political conflict, aiming to ensure a more stable electoral environment.

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Nigeria’s electoral process had recorded improvements through the use of technology, citing the permanent voter cards and the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) as measures that had strengthened the integrity of elections.