Former vice president and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, was absent on Tuesday as presidential candidates and political parties signed the first National Peace Accord for the 2027 general elections.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume.
Oyo State Governor and Presidential Candidate of the Allied People’s Movement (APM), Seyi Makinde, was also represented by the Vice Presidential candidate of the party, Lawal Daura, a former DG of the Department of State Services.
Atiku was, however, not represented at the event. Efforts to get the reason for his absence were not successful, as Mr Paul Ibe, his media adviser, did not respond to calls to his phone. He was yet to reply to messages sent to him as at the time of filing this report.
However, the National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, Bolaji Abdullahi, told newsmen that the party was represented by the National Legal Adviser, Prof. Osumbor, at the event.
The ceremony was organised by the National Peace Committee (NPC) in partnership with the Kukah Centre.
The Accord is aimed at committing political parties, presidential candidates and their supporters to peaceful campaigns, respect for electoral institutions and issue-based engagement ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, NPC Chairman General Abdusalami Abubakar (rtd) appealed to political parties, candidates, and campaign spokespersons to conduct their activities with civility and decency.
“Over the years, political campaigns have created a platform for political parties to resort to name-calling, personal insults, and character assassination,” Abubakar stated.
He cautioned that toxic campaign atmospheres risk inciting violence and undermining electoral integrity.
The Accord firmly anchors its commitments in the Constitution and the Electoral Act, supported by the NPC’s Election Security Information (ESI) Hub to monitor electoral offences and provide monthly threat assessments.
With campaigns officially opening today and the elections five months away, the former Head of State urged political actors to focus on manifestoes, promote tolerance, and reject misinformation, fake news, and personal attacks.
Also speaking at the ceremony, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, described the Accord as a critical political tradition capable of strengthening the moral authority required to promote sanity in the electoral process.
Amupitan urged political parties and their candidates to commit themselves to issue-based campaigns and present measurable manifestos that would prioritise the welfare and interests of Nigerians.
According to him, campaigns should provide an opportunity for candidates to present their programmes and compete for the mandate of the people, rather than become a platform for violence and confrontation.
“See the Peace Accord as a covenant to do what is good and preserve the sanctity of the nation,” he said.
He cautioned against turning the electoral contest into a “war theatre”, stressing the need for political actors to conduct themselves in ways that would strengthen democracy and preserve national unity.
Elections not a do-or-die contest – Tinubu
President Tinubu reminded candidates and their supporters that elections should never be treated as a do-or-die contest.
“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,” he added.
He also called on political parties, candidates and other signatories to the peace accord to exercise restraint and refrain from exploiting “ethnic, religious and other primordial sentiments in the pursuit of political power.”
Speaking through Senator George Akume, the President said political disagreements and competing visions were legitimate features of democracy, but warned that campaigns must never be allowed to undermine national cohesion or threaten the bonds holding Nigerians together.