Nigerian Presidential Candidates Sign Peace Pact as 2027 Campaign Begins

Political parties and presidential and National Assembly candidates in Nigeria have signed the first National Peace Accord, committing to issue-based campaigns and vowing to reject violence, hate speech, misinformation, and personal attacks ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The accord was signed in Abuja at an event organized by the National Peace Committee in partnership with The Kukah Centre, just one day before the official commencement of public campaigns and rallies for the elections. The ceremony brought together prominent figures, including the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Joash Amupitan; leaders of various political parties; presidential candidates; National Assembly candidates; the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu; and representatives from the diplomatic community.

Among those who signed the accord were representatives of President Bola Tinubu, the Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate Peter Obi, the Social Democratic Party candidate Adewole Adebayo, and the African Action Congress counterpart Omoyele Sowore. Other signatories included the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, and the presidential candidates of the Peoples Redemption Party and Labour Party, Donald Duke and Chibuzor Okereke, respectively.

The event also featured goodwill messages from diplomatic representatives, such as the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria, Gautier Mignot, and the Ambassador of Switzerland to Nigeria, Patrick Egloff. However, notable political figures like former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde were absent from the ceremony.

The signing occurred against a backdrop of escalating political activities for the 2027 elections, with the economy, insecurity, unemployment, poverty, infrastructure deficits, and the credibility of the electoral process expected to be dominant themes. INEC's revised timetable indicates that presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, with governorship and State House of Assembly elections following on February 6, 2027. President Tinubu, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, urged political actors to prioritize national interest over personal and partisan ambitions, cautioning against viewing the struggle for political power as a "do-or-die" affair.

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the struggle for political power must not become a do-or-die affair.