Nigeria’s political parties and presidential candidates have signed a peace accord ahead of the 2027 elections, agreeing to a peaceful campaign and to avoid violence and inflammatory remarks during the electoral period.
The agreement was signed on Tuesday, August 18, as political parties gear up for the official start of the campaign, which is expected to attract huge publicity as the country heads towards one of the most competitive presidential elections in recent years.
The meeting, called by the National Peace Committee, is part of efforts to de-escalate tensions and encourage people to accept election results.
President Bola Tinubu, who is running for a second term in office, was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, while the presidential candidates included Peter Obi and Omoyele Sowore, with some of the other aspirants also in attendance.
The candidates who were not present include Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who is contesting under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, who were represented by others in the meeting.
The agreement focuses on urging parties and campaigners to engage in issue-based campaigns free from violence, inflammatory speeches, and other acts that could inflame ethnic, religious, and regional sentiments.
Nigeria has had a long and bloody history of ethnic cleansing and violence in connection with elections, with politicians often using fear and intimidation to rally support and votes during the campaign.
President Tinubu urged politicians not to use ethnicity and religion as instruments of division during his speech at the signing ceremony of the agreement. His government has called on political parties and candidates to refrain from using violence, hate speech, and misinformation as the campaign kicks off.
Meanwhile, Peter Obi urged Nigerians to make politicians fulfill their campaign pledges because he signed on behalf of the people as voters. He said the people should boycott those who do not meet the obligations set out in the agreement.
According to the agreement, political parties and candidates must help de-escalate tensions by avoiding inflammatory rhetoric, especially on ethnic, religious, and regional lines, and encourage dialogue.
The organizers hope that the agreement will help Nigeria avoid violence before and after the presidential election, which is expected to be highly competitive. Tinubu’s All Progressives Congress (APC) is expected to face strong opposition from other political parties in the 2027 elections. However, with his approval rating in recent months, some analysts predict that Tinubu will win again.
Many analysts believe that the upcoming election will be fought on issues such as the economy, security, governance, jobs, regional inequality, and other factors, in addition to Tinubu’s personality in leadership. Nevertheless, the success of the agreement will depend on what happens next, including what Tinubu and his critics do in the coming months.
It is worth noting that Nigeria has witnessed a lot of violence and hatred around elections in the past. However, since 2023, peace agreements have been signed by political parties and presidential candidates in Nigeria in an effort to ensure peaceful elections. According to the National Peace Committee, all 18 political parties and their presidential candidates who competed in the 2023 presidential election signed a similar peace pact last year.
However, the question now is whether what is written in the peace accord will not be forgotten when the heat of the campaign intensifies.
Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election will be a major media event, drawing global attention. Tinubu will face intense scrutiny on many issues affecting the country, such as security, the economy, and governance.
