Tinubu, Obi, Sowore Sign 2027 Peace Accord
President Bola Tinubu, Peter Obi, Omoyele Sowore and other presidential candidates and party leaders
on Tuesday signed the First National Peace Accord ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The ceremony, organised by the National Peace Committee in partnership with The Kukah Centre, was
held at the International Conference Centre in Abuja.
It took place on the eve of the official commencement of public campaigns scheduled to begin on
Wednesday, 19 August 2026.
President Tinubu, who is seeking re-election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume. Akume
signed the accord alongside APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda.
Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), and Omoyele Sowore of
the African Action Congress (AAC) signed the document in person.
Other participating parties included the Labour Party, Social Democratic Party, Democratic Leadership
Alliance, National Democratic Party, National Rescue Movement, Youth Party, Young Progressives Party
and Zenith Labour Party, among others.
The accord commits political parties, candidates and their supporters to peaceful, issue-based
campaigns. Signatories pledged to reject violence, hate speech, personal attacks, misinformation and
any actions capable of undermining the electoral process or national unity.
In remarks delivered on his behalf, President Tinubu described the signing as “a solemn pledge to the
Nigerian people that we, as leaders, will put the nation’s interests above personal or partisan
ambitions.”
He urged politicians to focus on ideas and policies rather than ethnic or religious divisions and affirmed
the APC’s commitment to the accord’s principles.
Peter Obi called for credible and peaceful campaigns, stressing that those seeking public office must
conduct themselves in a manner worthy of the positions they aspire to.
Omoyele Sowore, while signing, expressed reservations about the effectiveness of previous peace
accords and called for a complementary “Justice Accord” that would include sanctions for violators.
The National Peace Committee is chaired by former Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.),
with Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah as convener. INEC Chairman Prof Joash Amupitan and the
Inspector-General of Police also attended the event.
The signing marks the first phase of the peace process for the 2027 elections, with a second phase
planned after the polls.
By Oyinkansola Shittu.
