The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2027 elections, Peter Obi, has explained that he signed the National Peace Accord in order to ensure that aspiring political leaders conduct themselves in a manner worthy of the positions they seek.
Obi joined other presidential and political party candidates on Tuesday in Abuja to sign the accord, which commits political actors to peaceful, issue-based campaigns ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The accord, organised by the National Peace Committee in partnership with The Kukah Centre, requires candidates and political parties to shun violence, hate speech, personal attacks, misinformation and other actions capable of undermining the electoral process.
Explaining his decision to sign the agreement in a post made on Wednesday, Obi said it reinforced his commitment to ensuring that candidates conduct themselves in a manner that reflects the offices they aspire to occupy.
“My signing of the accord is a reinforcement of my continued commitment to insisting that we, as candidates, must conduct ourselves in a way that reflects the office we aspire to,” he said.
According to him, political leaders must reject violent rhetoric and ensure that their supporters do not engage in conduct capable of threatening peace and national cohesion.
“Leaders must eschew all forms of violent rhetoric and rein in their followers to do the same,” Obi added.
He said the 2027 elections should focus on issues directly affecting the lives of Nigerians, including national unity, insecurity, poverty, the rising number of out-of-school children and the need to restore hope to citizens.
“The next elections must be strictly based on the issues that matter to Nigerians: unity, insecurity, pulling people out of poverty, reducing the number of out-of-school children, and restoring hope to the long-suffering people of our country,” he said.
Obi further urged his supporters to recognise the commitment made by political actors to peaceful, free and credible elections, saying the process must be devoid of rancour.
He also took a swipe at politicians who seek the honorific title “His Excellency”, saying such individuals must demonstrate exemplary conduct.
“Those of us wishing to be addressed as ‘His Excellency’ must behave excellently, and, more importantly, the process of attaining public office must be excellent,” he said.
The former Anambra State governor also expressed confidence in the commitment of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct free, fair and credible elections.
He said the pledge by law enforcement agencies to remain impartial throughout the electioneering period was equally important to the credibility of the 2027 polls.
Obi called on his supporters to remain peaceful and resolute as the political season begins.
“I call on my supporters to remain firm, determined, and peaceful,” he said.
The development came as President Bola Tinubu also urged political parties and candidates to avoid violence, hate speech and divisive ethnic or religious rhetoric during the 2027 campaign.
Tinubu, represented at the peace accord ceremony by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, said political disagreements were inevitable but must not degenerate into threats or appeals to primordial sentiments.
“It is natural during campaigns to disagree as opponents and advocate competing governing visions for our country. We may exchange occasional political jabs. 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,” he said.
The President stressed that elections should not be treated as a do-or-die affair, insisting that Nigeria must remain the ultimate winner regardless of the outcome.
“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,” Tinubu said.
He urged candidates to campaign on policies, ideas and concrete solutions to the challenges confronting Nigerians, rather than personal attacks and inflammatory rhetoric.
Tinubu also pledged the commitment of his administration and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the provisions of the peace accord and called on other parties and candidates to make a similar commitment.