*Vow issue-based campaigns as Atiku, Makinde shun ceremony

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the leadership of political parties and presidential candidates on Tuesday committed themselves to peaceful, transparent and issue-based campaigns ahead of the 2027 general elections.

They equally committed against engaging in violence, hate speech, misinformation and the exploitation of ethnic and religious sentiments in the quest for political power.

The commitment was made in Abuja at the signing of the First National Peace Accord on issue-based campaigns for the 2027 general elections, organised by the National Peace Committee in partnership with The Kukah Centre, one day before the official commencement of campaigns.

Tinubu, who is seeking re-election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was represented at the ceremony by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume.

Political parties, presidential and National Assembly candidates who attended the ceremony also signed the accord, pledging to shun violence, hate speech, personal attacks, misinformation and other conduct capable of undermining the electoral process.

The event was attended by the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, as well as several political party leaders and presidential candidates.

The Chairman of the National Peace Committee (NPC) and former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd.), was represented by former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Martin Luther Agwai (rtd.).

However, some notable opposition figures, including former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, who are presidential candidates of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), respectively, were absent from the ceremony.

The commitment and signing ceremony was made just one day before the official commencement of public campaigns and rallies for the 2027 general elections, in line with the revised timetable put together by INEC.

According to the electoral body, the Presidential and National Assembly elections have been scheduled to hold on January 16, 2027, while the Governorship and State House of Assembly elections will hold on February 6, 2027.

*Tinubu: APC rejects violence, hate speech

In his remarks delivered through Akume, President Tinubu said it was a pleasure to participate in the significant occasion preceding the commencement of political campaigns for the presidential, National Assembly, governorship and other elections scheduled for January and February 2027.

The President expressed appreciation to members of the National Peace Committee, particularly General Abdulsalami Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto and Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, for convening the important gathering.

He said Nigeria owed the NPC a debt of gratitude for its steadfast role since 2014 in promoting peace accords that commit political parties and candidates to non-violent and issue-based campaigns during national elections and off-cycle state polls.

According to Tinubu, since Nigeria returned to democratic governance in 1999 under the stewardship of General Abdulsalami Abubakar and his team, every election period had come with its share of anxiety because of the nature of Nigerian politics and the intense competition for political power.

He said that while politics and the contest for power could be loud and often generate tension and disagreements among political actors, Nigerians must acknowledge the progress recorded in the country’s electoral process, particularly in transparency and election management by INEC.

The President said INEC had, with the aid of technology, recorded remarkable improvements in every election cycle.

He said the introduction of the Permanent Voter Card and the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, an electronic card reader, had eliminated voting manipulation, ballot stuffing and ballot snatching at polling units.

According to him, the improvements had restored power to voters, who were now more confident that their votes would count.

“These improvements have restored power to the voters, who are now sure that their vote will count. Politicians are now more accountable to the people because votes count,” he said.

Tinubu added that recent polls had also demonstrated Nigeria’s capacity to conduct elections with maturity and restraint.

He noted that between October 2025 and August 15, 2026, the country witnessed three off-cycle elections in Anambra, Ekiti and Osun states, with different political parties emerging victorious.

According to him, local and foreign observers described the elections as free, credible and transparent, adding that when an electoral process and its outcome were manifestly transparent, there was less post-election litigation before the courts.

*Nation’s interest above personal ambitions

Tinubu said the signing of the peace accord represented a solemn pledge by political leaders to place the interest of Nigeria above personal or partisan ambitions.

“We have gathered today to commit ourselves to a peaceful and transparent electoral process. Signing this peace accord is a solemn pledge to the Nigerian people that we, as leaders, will put the nation’s interest above personal or partisan ambitions,” he said.

He called on Nigerians, civil society organisations, foreign partners and the media to join political leaders in deepening democracy and building a stronger and more vibrant democratic society.

The President stressed that democracy went beyond periodic elections that brought politicians into government positions.

“Democracy is not just about periodic elections that get politicians into government positions. Democracy is about how citizens participate in the affairs of their nation, build trust in public institutions, engage civically, and work together for good governance and a more just and equitable society,” he said.

Tinubu said that in the spirit of the peace accord, political actors must conduct themselves in ways that strengthen, rather than tear apart, the fabric of Nigerian society.

He acknowledged that it was natural for political opponents to disagree during campaigns and advocate competing visions for governing the country, adding that politicians might even exchange occasional political jabs.

The President, however, warned that Nigerians, as members of the same national family, must never resort to divisive or primordial sentiments based on ethnicity or religion as instruments for seeking political power.

“Let us campaign on superior ideas. Let us debate issues and promote the best policies to expand opportunities for our people and accelerate Nigeria’s journey from a developing nation to a first-world country,” he said.

*Tinubu pledges APC commitment to peace accord

As the campaign season begins, Tinubu said he and the APC were fully committed to the principles and tenets of the peace accord.

“As the campaign season kicks off, I commit myself and my party, the All Progressives Congress, to the tenets of this accord,” he said.

“Our party rejects violence, hate speech, the spread of misinformation—including through artificial intelligence—and all forms of incitement, especially via social media,” the President added.

He said the APC remained committed to peaceful and transparent elections that would strengthen political stability, social harmony, economic progress and Nigeria’s overall prosperity.

Tinubu urged other political parties and political actors to make the same commitment, stressing that elections should never be regarded as a matter of life and death.

“Let us remember that elections are not a do-or-die affair. We are partners in the project of nation-building. Win or lose, our country, Nigeria, must be the ultimate winner,” the President declared.

Tinubu also prayed for Nigerians and the continued peace, unity and progress of the country.

“God bless you all. And may God continue to bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.