President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday signed a peace accord ahead of the 2027 general elections, pledging that the All Progressives Congress would reject violence, hate speech and misinformation, including content generated through artificial intelligence, during the election period.
Tinubu, who was represented at the ceremony in Abuja by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, commended the National Peace Committee for sustaining the peace accord initiative since 2014.
The accord commits political parties and their candidates to peaceful and issue-based campaigns while discouraging inflammatory rhetoric and electoral violence.
The President also praised the Independent National Electoral Commission for what he described as steady improvements in election management through the use of technology.
He said the Permanent Voters’ Card and the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System had helped to curb electoral malpractice, including voting manipulation, ballot stuffing and the snatching of ballot boxes at polling units.
According to him, the reforms have strengthened public confidence in the electoral process by assuring voters that their ballots would count, while making politicians more accountable.
Tinubu cited the Anambra, Ekiti and Osun off-cycle governorship elections held between October 2025 and August 15, 2026, as evidence of Nigeria’s growing electoral maturity.
He noted that different political parties emerged victorious in the elections, which he said were described by local and international observers as free, credible and transparent.
The President urged politicians to base their campaigns on policies and ideas rather than ethnic and religious sentiments.
He described the peace accord as a solemn commitment by political actors to put the national interest above personal and partisan ambitions.
Tinubu pledged his commitment, as well as that of the APC, to the principles contained in the accord and urged other political parties and their candidates to do the same.
He warned against turning the 2027 elections into a “do-or-die affair”, stressing the need for all stakeholders to protect Nigeria’s democratic development.
“I call on all Nigerians, civil society organisations, our foreign partners, and the media to join us in deepening and building a stronger, more vibrant democratic society,” he said.
The President added that democracy went beyond periodic elections and the transfer of political power.
“Democracy is not just about periodic elections that get politicians into government positions. 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 said.
He urged Nigerians and political actors to prioritise the country’s unity and democratic stability throughout the electoral process.
“Win or lose, our country, Nigeria, must be the ultimate winner,” Tinubu said.
