Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has joined other political leaders in signing the National Peace Accord ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, calling on politicians to pursue peaceful, credible and issue-based campaigns.
The accord was signed on Tuesday at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja, in an initiative organised by the National Peace Committee in partnership with The Kukah Centre. The ceremony brought together presidential candidates, political party leaders and other stakeholders ahead of the commencement of the 2027 election campaign.
Obi used the occasion to appeal for an electoral process in which Nigerians’ votes would count, stressing that political competition should not lead to violence or loss of lives.
“I have no fear,” Obi said while speaking to journalists at the venue, adding that, for the sake of Nigerian children, the country should have an election where citizens’ votes genuinely determine the outcome.
The former Anambra State governor also urged Nigerians to hold political candidates accountable for their conduct during the election period. He said voters should reject politicians and parties that violate the provisions of the peace accord.
According to Obi, the ballot provides citizens with the most effective means of sanctioning political actors who resort to violence or disregard commitments made under the agreement.
He further emphasised that no Nigerian should lose his or her life because of an election, urging political leaders and their supporters to place the interests of the country above personal ambitions.
The National Peace Accord commits political parties, candidates and their supporters to peaceful political engagement and issue-based campaigns. It also seeks to discourage hate speech, violence, personal attacks, fake news and ethnic or religious incitement during the electioneering period.
The initiative comes as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections, with political parties expected to intensify campaigns and mobilisation in the months ahead.
The ceremony was attended by representatives of several major political parties and presidential candidates. President Bola Tinubu was represented at the event by Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, while other candidates, including African Action Congress presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore and Peoples Redemption Party candidate Adewole Adebayo, were also present.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the African Democratic Congress were notably absent from the ceremony, according to reports.
The National Peace Committee, chaired by former Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar, has historically played a role in securing commitments from political parties and presidential candidates to peaceful elections. The Kukah Centre, led by Catholic Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, partnered with the committee for the latest exercise.
The 2026 accord is the first phase of the peace process, with another phase expected after the 2027 elections. The framework is intended to encourage political actors to resolve disagreements through lawful and peaceful means rather than violence.
Obi’s emphasis on voters holding violators accountable places considerable responsibility on the electorate. His position suggests that Nigerians should assess candidates not only on their campaign promises but also on their conduct throughout the electoral process.
The signing also comes at a politically sensitive moment, with concerns over electoral credibility, misinformation, hate speech and political violence already forming part of public debate ahead of 2027.
For Obi, the central message is that political ambition should never come at the expense of human life.
As campaigns begin, the effectiveness of the accord will ultimately depend on whether political parties and their supporters translate the commitments made in Abuja into actual conduct on the ground.
With the 2027 contest expected to be highly competitive, the peace pact provides a formal framework for political actors to compete without turning elections into a battle for survival.
