By Chibuike Nkwede
The race for Nigeria’s 2027 presidency enters a new phase today as political parties formally commence public campaigns, with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, presidential candidates Peter Obi, Dumebi Kachikwu, Omoyele Sowore and other political stakeholders committing themselves to peaceful campaigns ahead of the elections.
The commitment followed the signing of the first National Peace Accord for the 2027 general elections at a ceremony in Abuja on Tuesday, where political actors pledged to reject violence, hate speech, intimidation and other actions capable of threatening the credibility and stability of the electoral process.
However, former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, was conspicuously absent from the ceremony and did not send a representative.
Oyo State Governor and presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Seyi Makinde, was also absent, although his running mate, Lawal Daura, represented the party at the event.
The signing came on the eve of the commencement of public campaigns for the presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for January 16, 2027.
With the political contest now moving into the public campaign phase, participants at the ceremony urged candidates and their supporters to place national interest above personal and partisan ambitions.
President Tinubu, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, cautioned politicians against exploiting ethnic and religious sentiments in their pursuit of power.
According to the President, political disagreements and competing policy positions were legitimate elements of democracy, but such differences should never be allowed to threaten national unity.
He urged presidential candidates to make the coming campaign a contest of ideas, policies and programmes rather than one driven by division.
Tinubu said political actors could disagree and engage in robust political exchanges but must avoid using ethnicity, religion and other primordial sentiments to mobilise support.
He also urged candidates to promote policies capable of expanding opportunities and improving the living conditions of Nigerians.
The President reaffirmed his commitment, as well as that of the All Progressives Congress (APC), to the Peace Accord, promising that the ruling party would conduct its campaign in a manner that promotes peace and national stability.
He specifically condemned violence, hate speech, misinformation, incitement and the misuse of artificial intelligence and social media to manipulate public opinion or inflame tensions.
Tinubu reminded political parties, candidates and their supporters that elections should not be treated as a do-or-die affair, stressing that the ultimate winner must be Nigeria regardless of which candidate emerges victorious.
Obi: Reject politicians who break peace pact
On his part, presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, challenged Nigerians to hold political actors accountable for their conduct during the campaign and reject candidates who violate the commitments contained in the Peace Accord.
Obi said signing the agreement would only be meaningful if its provisions translated into the actual behaviour of politicians and their supporters throughout the electoral process.
He urged candidates to demonstrate through their conduct that they deserved the confidence of the electorate.
The former Anambra State governor also condemned the violence recorded during the recently concluded Osun State governorship election, particularly the loss of innocent lives.
He maintained that political ambition should never be pursued at the expense of lives and property, urging candidates and their supporters to settle disagreements through democratic and peaceful means.
INEC warns candidates
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, said the success and credibility of the 2027 elections would depend not only on the electoral commission but also on the conduct of political parties, candidates and their supporters.
Amupitan described the Peace Accord as an important milestone in preparations for the elections and noted that August 19 marks the beginning of public campaign activities for the presidential and National Assembly polls.
He called on candidates to present clear and measurable manifestos focused on the welfare of Nigerians while avoiding character assassination, identity-based manipulation and inflammatory rhetoric.
The INEC chairman urged politicians to view the campaign as a “competitive job interview” rather than a “war theatre”.
He warned that the accord would have little value if party leaders failed to ensure that its provisions were respected by their campaign organisations and supporters at the grassroots.
Amupitan stressed that the strength of the agreement would ultimately be measured by the conduct of the leaders who signed it, rather than by the signatures alone.
He therefore urged presidential candidates and party leaders to communicate the obligations of the accord to their supporters at the state, local government, ward and grassroots levels.
Police promise neutrality
The Nigeria Police Force also assured Nigerians of its readiness to maintain neutrality and professionalism throughout the electoral process.
Deputy Inspector-General of Police Umar Shehu Nadada, who represented the Inspector-General of Police, said the Force would remain impartial and professional in the discharge of its responsibilities.
He warned that security agencies would not allow political actors to arm or recruit young Nigerians for electoral violence.
Nadada urged the candidates to honour the accord in good faith, stressing that political disagreements should be settled through superior arguments and democratic engagement rather than violence.
EU urges peaceful contest
The European Union Ambassador and Head of Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, similarly called on political parties and candidates to commit themselves to peaceful and issue-based campaigns.
Mignot said the outcome of Nigeria’s democratic process had implications beyond the country, particularly because of Nigeria’s influence across Africa.
He urged political leaders to recognise the influence they wield over young Nigerians and to use that influence responsibly.
The EU envoy also called on INEC to maintain fairness and impartiality throughout the electoral process and urged security agencies to perform their duties without bias.
30 peace accords facilitated since 2015
The National Peace Committee, led by former Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar, said it had facilitated 30 peace accords since 2015.
General Martin Luther Agwai, who represented Abubakar at the ceremony, disclosed that five of the accords had been signed at the national level ahead of the 2015, 2019 and 2023 general elections, while another 25 were facilitated at the sub-national level.
Agwai urged political parties and candidates to compete fairly, respect opposing views, mobilise their supporters peacefully, protect voters and respect electoral institutions.
Political parties represented at the ceremony included the APC, Accord Party, APGA, APM, DLA, Labour Party, NDP and NDC, among others.
With public campaigns officially beginning today, the political atmosphere is expected to intensify as presidential candidates and their parties take their messages directly to voters across the country.
The presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, while the governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will hold on February 6, 2027.
The Peace Accord now places the responsibility on the candidates, parties and their supporters to match their public commitments with their conduct as the contest for Nigeria’s next political leadership gathers momentum.