President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on political parties and candidates to focus on ideas and policy debates as the country prepares for the January and February 2027 general elections.
The President spoke on Tuesday in Abuja during the signing of the Peace Accord organised by the National Peace Committee, NPC, ahead of the polls.
Tinubu thanked the NPC, led by former Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto, and Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, for their continued work in promoting non-violent elections since 2014.
“Our nation owes the NPC a debt of gratitude for your steadfastness… in promoting peace accords that commit political parties and candidates to run non-violent, issue-based campaigns,” he said.
He described the signing of the accord as “a solemn pledge to the Nigerian people that we, as leaders, will put the nation’s interest above personal or partisan ambitions.”
The President noted improvements in election management since 1999, crediting the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and technology for reducing manipulation.
“With the aid of technology, INEC has recorded remarkable improvement in every election cycle. The introduction of the Permanent Voters Card and BVAS… has eliminated voting manipulation, ballot stuffing, and snatching at polling units,” he said.
Tinubu cited the three off-season elections held between October 2025 and August 15, 2026, in Anambra, Ekiti, and Osun states, which were won by different parties and described by observers as free, credible and transparent.
He said transparent processes lead to less post-election litigation. Urging politicians to avoid divisive rhetoric, Tinubu said campaigns should be about policy, not identity.
He said: “It is natural during campaigns to disagree as opponents and advocate competing governing visions for our country… But as members of the same household, the same national family, we must never resort to divisive or primordial sentiments of ethnicity or religion as tools for seeking power.
“Let us campaign on superior ideas. Let us debate issues and promote the best policies to expand opportunities for our people and accelerate Nigeria’s journey from a developing nation to a first-world country,” he added.
The President committed himself and the All Progressives Congress, APC, to the tenets of the accord.
“Our party rejects violence, hate speech, the spread of misinformation—including through artificial intelligence—and all forms of incitement, especially via social media,” he said.
He called on other political parties, civil society organisations, the media and foreign partners to support efforts to deepen democracy.
“Democracy is not just about periodic elections… Democracy is about how citizens participate in the affairs of their nation, build trust in public institutions, engage civically, and work together for good governance and a more just and equitable society.”
He concluded: “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.”
The Peace Accord signing brings together presidential candidates and party leaders who pledged to conduct peaceful campaigns ahead of the 2027 general elections.
