The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has advised political office seekers in the upcoming 2027 general elections to ensure their conduct, utterances and actions reflect the offices they aspire for.
Mr Obi made the call in an interview on the sidelines of the signing of the Peace Accord for the 2027 general elections on Tuesday in Abuja.
The peace accord meeting for 2027 for the presidential candidates was organised by the National Peace Committee (NPC) led by former Head of State Abdusalami Abubakar (retd.).
According to him, candidates must maintain high standards of behaviour and focus on peaceful, issue-based campaigns that address the real challenges facing Nigerians.
“We must, for the sake of this country, ensure that our conduct and behaviour reflect the office we’re seeking.
“That we do the right things and campaign on issues that Nigerians are going through today,” Mr Obi said.
Commenting on peace agreements, Mr Obi said that exemplary leadership should supersede ceremonial signings, stressing that credibility must start with the character of the candidate.
“We don’t even need to sign this. We are seeking an office where we should be exemplary.
“You can’t answer ‘His Excellency’ without being an excellent person. The process that will make you answer ‘Excellency’ should be excellent, and the only way to do it is to conduct yourself properly,” he said.
Mr Obi expressed regret over past electoral violence and casualties recorded in previous elections, including the recently-concluded Osun State governorship election, and insisted that political ambition should never cost human lives.
“Let us not forget those who died in ensuring that the election in Osun was achieved.
“We should visit them, condole their families and remain prayerful and conduct ourselves in a way that in our democracy will be mentioned for good; nobody needs to die for an election. It shouldn’t be. It is painful, and I wish it never happens again,” Mr Obi said.
Addressing concerns and calls by critics for a “justice accord” to penalise violators of election peace agreements, Mr Obi reiterated that the ultimate responsibility lied in the moral conduct of the candidates.
“Whether we call it a justice accord or a peace accord, the personal conduct of the candidate must reflect the office the person is seeking. Behaviour and expression at any time must reflect that office,” he noted.
Responding to a question on what punishment should be meted out to candidates or political parties that violated the peace accord, Mr Obi said that “the punishment is that Nigerians should not vote for them.”
Asked about his biggest fear for the 2027 general elections, Mr Obi said he had no personal fears but urged stakeholders to safeguard the integrity of the ballot for future generations.
“I don’t have any fear, except to say that please, for the sake of the children of Nigeria, can we have an election where people’s votes will count?” he stated.
Reaffirming his commitment to the democratic process, Mr Obi noted that despite the systemic flaws, participating in the system remains necessary to reform it.
“Because I want to change the process, I have to go through it, so I have to believe in it,” he added.
(NAN)