Major presidential candidates and leaders of political parties have signed the first National Peace Accord ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The agreement was signed on Tuesday at the International Conference Centre in Abuja under the coordination of the National Peace Committee, chaired by former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.).
President Bola Tinubu was represented at the ceremony by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, who signed alongside the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Nentawe Yilwatda.
Other presidential candidates who signed the accord included Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress and Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress.
Representatives of several other political parties, including the Labour Party, Democratic Leadership Alliance, National Democratic Party, National Rescue Movement, Social Democratic Party, Youth Party, Young Progressives Party and Zenith Labour Party, also participated in the ceremony.
The National Peace Committee said the initiative was aimed at encouraging political actors to commit themselves to peaceful campaigns and elections despite differences in ideology and political interests.
Speaking during the event, Channels Television journalist Kayode Okikiolu, who anchored the ceremony, described the signing as more than a formal exercise.
He said it represented a commitment by political parties and candidates to ensure that political disagreements do not threaten the peace and unity of the country.
However, Sowore expressed reservations about the effectiveness of the agreement.
Speaking with journalists after the ceremony, he described the peace accord as a “ritual”, pointing to deaths recorded during the August 15 governorship election in Osun State.
According to him, previous peace agreements had failed to prevent violence, arguing that stronger measures were needed to hold political actors accountable.
Sowore alleged that individuals who had signed earlier peace agreements in Osun later became involved in violence.
He therefore called for what he described as a “Justice Accord”, with clearly defined sanctions for candidates and political parties that violate the commitments contained in the agreement.
The National Peace Committee has facilitated similar peace initiatives during previous elections as part of efforts to reduce political tension, promote peaceful campaigns and strengthen democratic stability in Nigeria.
