POLITICS
2027: Can Politicians Keep their Peace Accord Promises?
By Emmanuel Oloniruha
As Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections, political leaders have renewed their commitment to peaceful and issue-based campaigns through a National Peace Accord.
The accord, signed on Aug.
18 in Abuja, seeks to move political campaigns away from personal attacks, hate speech, misinformation and incitement towards debates centred on policies, programmes and solutions to Nigeria’s challenges.The pact was signed by presidential candidates, national chairmen of political parties, and candidates for governorship and National Assembly elections.
Among those who endorsed the accord were President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Sen. George Akume.
Others included Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and Adewole Adebayo of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
Organised by the National Peace Committee (NPC), the initiative therefore places the conduct of political actors at the centre of efforts to protect Nigeria’s democratic stability.
Since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999, the country has maintained an uninterrupted cycle of electoral transitions, in spite of recurring tensions surrounding elections.
Over the years, however, electoral competition has frequently been accompanied by violence, inflammatory rhetoric, hate speech, misinformation and attacks against political opponents.
Against this backdrop, successive election cycles have underscored the need for mechanisms capable of encouraging political actors to pursue their ambitions without threatening national peace.
The NPC, established in 2013 under the leadership of former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd.), has consequently emerged as one of the key platforms for such interventions.
In addition, Catholic Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah serves as the Convener, alongside other eminent Nigerians.
Since 2015, the committee has facilitated 30 peace accords, including five at the national level before major general elections and 25 at the sub-national level for off-cycle elections.
According to Abubakar, represented by NPC member, Gen. Martin Agwai (rtd.), the committee has also established independent faith-based peace structures in 23 states to support its peace-building efforts.
More importantly, the 2027 accord seeks to address a recurring problem; the gap between political commitments and actual campaign conduct.
Under the agreement, political parties and candidates are expected to compete fairly on ideas, policies and programmes, debate opposing views respectfully and organise their supporters peacefully.
In addition, political actors are required to protect voters, respect electoral institutions and reject hate speech, incitement, misinformation and narratives capable of provoking intimidation or violence.
Abubakar noted that political campaigns had drifted from party manifestos to name-calling, personal insults and character assassination.
He therefore urged parties, candidates, campaign councils and spokespersons to focus on issues affecting Nigerians and comply with both the spirit and letter of the accord.
However, evidence from previous elections suggests that signing such agreements does not automatically translate into compliance.
More broadly, the history of electoral violence shows the consequences when political competition crosses the line into intimidation and bloodshed.
There is no single authoritative national database providing a definitive cumulative figure for deaths arising from electoral violence since the NPC began its interventions.
Different organisations use varying definitions, geographical parameters and timeframes.
Some count only election-day violence, while others include politically motivated killings during campaigns and the post-election period.
Nevertheless, the available evidence remains disturbing.
For the 2015 electoral cycle, the Nigeria Security Tracker documented 106 election-related deaths, including 62 fatalities in the months preceding the election and another 44 afterwards.
Similarly, the European Union Election Observation Mission recorded about 145 deaths associated with election-related violence during the 2019 campaign period and the three election days.
Other Nigerian monitoring organisations, using broader timeframes, however, recorded significantly higher figures.
Against this history, the 2027 Peace Accord is expected to provide more than a symbolic commitment to peaceful elections.
Presenting a paper titled, “National Context of Emerging Issues: From Commitment to Accountability,” Asabe Ndahi, Programme Officer at the Kukah Centre, said previous election data showed a 43 per cent breach of the commitment to conduct issue-based campaigns.
Ndahi identified three major risks to the 2027 elections; violence and intimidation, electoral manipulation, and political polarisation, which could undermine public confidence in Nigeria’s democracy.
She said these included political violence, voter threats, attacks on electoral infrastructure, vote-buying, voter suppression, malpractice, hate speech, misinformation and identity-based mobilisation, all of which are addressed under the Electoral Act 2026.
She added that breaches involving personal insults and fake news or disinformation rose to 90 per cent, with party spokespersons accounting for 58 per cent of violations across 32 states.
Ndahi stressed that addressing these vulnerabilities early was essential to maintaining national stability and public trust, while raising questions about how the 2027 Peace Accord commitments would be monitored and enforced.
Consequently, for the accord to achieve its purpose, political leaders must translate their signatures into responsible conduct throughout the election cycle.
President Tinubu, represented by Akume, reaffirmed the commitment of the APC to the pact and cautioned political actors against using modern communication tools to inflame tensions.
In particular, the president warned against using social media and artificial intelligence to spread misinformation and incite violence.
He also urged political parties and candidates to see elections as an opportunity for nation-building rather than a “do-or-die” contest.
Similarly, he advised political actors against exploiting ethnic and religious identities for political advantage.
“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 and primordial sentiments of ethnicity or religion as tools for seeking power,” he said.
Speaking after signing the document, Obi called for personal conduct that reflected the dignity of public office.
“You cannot answer ‘His Excellency’ without being an excellent person,” he said, urging Nigerians not to support candidates or parties that violated the provisions of the peace pact.
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has placed the responsibility for peaceful elections on all stakeholders, stressing that electoral technology alone cannot guarantee democratic stability.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, urged political parties to raise the quality of public discourse and focus their campaigns on solutions to the challenges facing Nigerians.
“Nigerians do not want insults; they want solutions. Tell the voters what you will do for the economy, security, healthcare and education.
“Let the 2027 campaign be a marketplace of ideas, not a theatre of war,” he said.
Beyond this, Amupitan warned against digital misinformation, premature declaration of election results and identity-based provocation.
He reaffirmed the commission’s neutrality, saying INEC had no candidate and no interest in who won or lost an election.
“Our responsibility is to ensure the ballot is protected and the will of the voters is reflected in the final results,” he said.
According to him, public campaigns for the 2027 general elections commenced on Aug. 19, while presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for Jan. 16, 2027.
Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections are scheduled for Feb. 6, 2027.
On the commission’s preparations, Amupitan said operational activities were already underway, with plans to deploy 1.4 million ad-hoc personnel across more than 176,000 polling units nationwide.
He cited recent off-cycle elections in Anambra, Ekiti, the FCT and Osun as evidence of improvements in electoral administration.
Nevertheless, he stressed that technological safeguards such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) could not substitute for political decorum.
“It is not the signatures written on this Accord today that preserve democracy; it is the character of the leaders who hold the pen,” Amupitan said.
Similarly, the security agencies have warned that inflammatory political rhetoric could translate into physical violence.
Inspector-General of Police, Mr Olatunji Disu, represented by the Deputy Inspector-General of Police (Operations), Umar Shehu, warned politicians against deploying thugs or manipulating ethnic and religious sentiments.
He also warned that acquiring or using firearms for political purposes would be treated as a major security threat.
“Political power is temporary, but Nigeria is permanent. No political victory is worth the loss of any Nigerian life, and no ambition is worth the destruction of our communities,” Disu said.
He pledged that law enforcement agencies would remain professional and impartial and operate within the rule of law.
Beyond campaign rhetoric and security, however, political stability also depends on the fairness of the electoral environment.
National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Alhaji Yusuf Dantalle, therefore reminded political leaders that peace could not exist without justice and fairness.
He called for an end to administrative practices that could disadvantage opposition parties, including excessive campaign fees and denial of access to public facilities.
“When we pursue peace in the absence of justice, it becomes illusory,” Dantalle said.
His position highlights another dimension of the accord; political parties must not only refrain from violence but must also have confidence that electoral institutions and government authorities will treat contestants fairly.
At the same time, international development partners have urged Nigeria to consolidate its democratic gains through free, credible and peaceful elections.
Gautier Mignot, EU Ambassador to Nigeria and Head of Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, represented by Agnieszka Torres, Chargé d’Affaires of the EU Delegation, reminded political actors of Nigeria’s influence across Africa.
“As the largest democracy in Africa, elections in Nigeria carry the responsibility to lead and inspire other African countries,” Mignot said.
He urged political leaders to reject hate speech and serve as positive role models for young Nigerians.
Likewise, Patrick Egloff, Switzerland’s Ambassador to Nigeria, represented by Siamak Rouhani, Chargé d’Affaires at the Swiss Embassy, said democracy depended on managing differences constructively.
He noted that concerns about security, livelihoods and governance should occupy the centre of the 2027 campaign.
The significance of the 2027 National Peace Accord will therefore not be determined by the ceremony at which political leaders signed it.
Rather, its real test will come as campaigns intensify, political interests clash and candidates compete for votes across the country.
Analysts say the accord’s success will depend on whether political actors translate their commitments into peaceful campaign conduct.
They added that the 2027 elections offer an opportunity to demonstrate that political competition can centre on policies and ideas without hate speech, incitement or violence. (NAN)
POLITICS
2027: Don’t Call Benue People Shenanigans, Alia not answerable to you- Ex- Amb, Tarzoor Tells Ortom, Wike.
From Attah Ede, Makurdi
Ex -Nigeria’s Ambassador to Namibia, Terhemen Tarzoor, has warned the immediate past Governor of Benue State Samuel Ortom and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to stop making derogatory remarks about governor Alia and calling Benue people shenanigans.
He also frown on their recent comments on Governor Hyacinth Alia, the Catholic Church and Federal Allocation accruing to the State.
Tarzoor gave the warning while speaking with journalists in Makurdi, Thursday.
The former speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, described the ex-governor Ortom’s outing on a TV programme, last week, as inappropriate saying the reported remarks by Ortom referring to Alia as a “419”, “a fake Reverend Father” and calling some Benue people “shenanigans” was uncalled for and condemnable.
Tarzoor insisted that political differences should not justify the use of language capable of undermining the office of the Governor and the dignity of the people of the state.
Tarzoor who is Benue State coordinator of Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) campaign for President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections, said Ortom should be mindful of his public comments about the incumbent governor.
“My take is that the former governor is not in the position to call the number one citizen 419. He has no right to call him that.”
“Ortom as an elder brother whom I respect, made me worried that political disagreements are being expressed in ways I consider unnecessary and capable of worsening tensions in the state.
“I Ortom’s reported comments on the administration of the Catholic Church, shows that he is not sufficiently informed about the Church’s financial accountability mechanisms to make such assertions”, Tarzoor said.
He also expressed reservations that the former Governor had the audacity to pontificate on the Catholic Church administration quoting Ortom as saying that “The Reverend Father (referring to Alia) is running Benue State like a Parish where priests just earn moneys, offertories and spend as they want. Invariably, he is saying there is no accountability in the Catholic Church.
“As a Knight of St. John International, I want to disabuse his mind and the minds of people who listened to that programme that there is a high level of accountability in the Catholic Church,” Tarzoor said.
He explained that the Catholic Church vehemently upholds a strong administrative accountability structures, from the priests to the church faithful and reasons why they have church councils, elders and laity councils, to provide oversight and ensure that priests were accountable to the faithful.
“There is no Catholic priest that can just earn money and spend at ease in the Catholic Church and I therefore say Ortom does not have the equipage to pontificate on such a subject matter,” he said, urging him to be cautious about making statements on the internal administration of a religious institution.
Tarzoor maintained that public officials, particularly those who had occupied high political offices, should demonstrate responsibility in their public engagements and avoid comments that could be interpreted as attacks on religious institutions.
The former lawmaker, who also faulted what he described as an unfair comparison between Ortom’s eight-year administration and Alia’s government, which has served for three years plus, argued that any assessment of the two administrations should consider their respective periods in office, resources available and development targets before drawing conclusions about their performances.
Tarzoor further condemned Ortom’s reported description of the people of Benue as “shenanigans,” saying such language was unbecoming of a political leader who had benefited from the support of the state’s electorate.
“I see that as repugnant, I see that as unbefitting of a personality who have benefitted enormously from the votes of Benue people all his life.”
He urged political leaders to distinguish between disagreements with an incumbent administration and the need to respect the people they once governed, saying “If he has issues, he should apply the right language, apply decorum in the manner to address matters. That is the only legacy we can leave for our children, those yet unborn and not to talk down on someone in the person of the Governor because you are bitter.”
On Wike’s reported comments concerning the revenue accruing to Benue State and the need for the state government to disclose its income and expenditure, Tarzoor questioned what he considered the minister’s selective attention to the state’s finances.
The former Ambassador who wondered when Wike became the Minister of Finance or Minister of Information, argued that if the FCT minister’s objective was to promote transparency in the management of public funds, similar questions should be directed at other states rather than concentrating on Benue.
“Has he spoken about the one coming to Nasarawa, or the one going to Rivers State? Has he published the one in Rivers? Has he published the one in Kano?” Tarzoor asked stating that the disclosure of public revenue and expenditure was a legitimate issue but insisted that such demands should be pursued through appropriate channels and applied consistently across the country.
The former governorship candidate of PDP alluded that the Alia administration was open to scrutiny, noting that members of the public could request relevant government records through established procedures, including the Freedom of Information framework.
“Governor Hyacinth Alia is open to all criticisms. The law is clear on freedom of information. You test it; the records will be there for you to see,” he said.
“I must caution people against uncoordinated demands for financial information. Government officials should be allowed to concentrate on governance while legitimate enquiries were handled through appropriate channels.
“The media had an important role to play in promoting accountability by seeking accurate information from relevant government agencies rather than relying solely on political exchanges”, he said.
By Tambaya Julius, Abuja
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has completed nine of the 14 activities on its timetable for the 2027 general elections, while addressing complaints from political parties over alleged omissions and discrepancies in candidates’ lists.
The development emerged at a youth engagement programme in Abuja, where electoral stakeholders also called for measures to protect young voters from violence and strengthen public confidence in the electoral process.
The INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, represented by the National Commissioner for Information and Voter Education, Dr.
Mohammed Haruna, said the commission was reviewing its preparations and working to resolve outstanding issues ahead of the polls.The event, titled “The Electorate: A Youth Dialogue with INEC,” was organised by Abuja Global Shapers Community (AGC) in partnership with Nigeria Youth Futures Fund, Yiaga Africa Abuja and Enough is Enough Nigeria, under the theme, “Let’s Talk About the 2027 Elections.”
Haruna said the commission had made progress on key activities, including the publication of candidates nominated by political parties for elective positions.
He acknowledged that the publication had generated complaints from some parties over alleged omissions and discrepancies, adding that INEC had invited the affected parties to submit petitions for consideration before finalising the list.
He described the voters’ register as central to the electoral process, noting that it would serve as the basis for identifying and accrediting eligible voters on election day.
Haruna also said INEC had increased the frequency of its meetings to review preparations, assess progress and take decisions necessary for the smooth conduct of the elections.
He explained that the commission comprises a chairman and 12 national commissioners responsible for policy decisions, alongside resident electoral commissioners across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The Curator of Abuja Global Shapers Community, Solape Sonuga, urged participants to engage INEC on its readiness for the elections and the measures needed to ensure credible polls.
Sonuga described the 2027 elections as particularly important to young Nigerians, saying the engagement was designed to promote youth participation, strengthen voter education and encourage civic responsibility beyond election day.
The Programme Manager for Governance at Yiaga Africa, Yetunde Bakare, called for deliberate efforts to ensure that young Nigerians could participate safely and meaningfully in the elections.
Citing Yiaga Africa’s voting intention survey, Bakari said 84 per cent of Nigerians surveyed were likely or very likely to vote in 2027. She said 61 per cent feared electoral violence could prevent them from participating, while only 40 per cent of young respondents said they were very likely to vote.
She described the figures as a concern for electoral stakeholders, stressing that voter mobilisation alone would not be sufficient without a safe and accessible environment for participation.
Bakare commended INEC’s preparations, including online voter registration, printable Permanent Voter Cards, planned nationwide mock accreditation exercises and efforts to strengthen the governance of electoral technology and artificial intelligence.
She urged the commission to communicate promptly with voters when technical or operational challenges arise, ensure transparency in the use of electoral technologies and make adequate provisions for eligible voters in hard-to-reach communities.
She also encouraged young Nigerians to seek credible information, reject electoral violence and misinformation, and hold elected officials accountable beyond election day.
Bakari said transparency, effective communication and credible electoral processes were essential to building public trust and ensuring that the 2027 elections reflected the will of Nigerians.
Leader of the PBAT Door-to-Door Movement, Government Tompolo, has called on the people of Benue state to come out enmasse and vote for President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election as he has demonstrated great concern for the security of life and property of the people, with the creation of the 5 Division of the Nigerian Army with headquarters in Makurdi, the state capital.
He described Tinubu as a leader, who said meant well for Nigeria and has shown this through bold policies and reforms including the State Police Bill, Local Government Autonomy Bill, Electricity Bill, and removal of petrol subsidy as well as the student loans programme, NELFUND, among others.
Ekpemupolo, also known as Tompolo, stated this in Makurdi, on Thursday, during the inauguration of the state chapter of the movement and distribution of 25 campaign vehicles to the state coordinators.
According to Tompolo, who was represented by Kestin Pondi, Managing director of Tantita, only a leader with love for his people could come up with such policies within such a short period of time.
“He is a president that wants Nigeria to be better than he met it. Tinubu is doing what no leader before him had the courage to do even though he knew it will turn the people against him.
“We like to compare Nigeria with Asian countries that are doing so well but one thing we forget to remember is that these countries reforms were done in more than eight years,” he said.
Continuing, Tompolo said: “They had bold leaders, they had courageous leaders who said we must reform and they stood by those reforms and today, they are the envy of the world. They are some of the most developed and civilised countries of the world.”
“Here in Nigeria, we have Tinubu, a man that is as courageous or even more courageous than those leaders. The man said we must reform and he has embarked on the reforms,” he added.
Governor Hyacinth Alia, in his remarks said President Tinubu was the secret behind all the development the people of the state praise him for.
“Each time you thank me for working for Benue people, that is the man behind it,” he stated.
Alia showered praises on President Tinubu for making it possible for governors to work for their people, emphasising that Benue is working because of Tinubu’s support.
He called on the people to campaign assiduously and vote massively for Tinubu’s re-election to continue to enjoy the policies and programmes of his administration.
The governor appreciated the president for prioritising the security of Benue, particularly for siting the 5 division in Makurdi earlier in the year, a development that had led to deployment of the military to crisis areas and borders, bringing about security, such that some previously internally displaced persons were returning home on their own to continue with farming.
This development, the governor pointed out, will ensure Benue maintains its place as the food basket of the nation.
Alia also listed factories the state had built, the 670 kilometres road network, free basic education, rehabilitation, mechanised agriculture, and upgrade and equipping of health centres and hospitals as some of the things the state was enjoying from the Tinubu administration, adding that there is more in stock if he gets re-elected.
Earlier, National Coordinator of the Movement, Comrade Sunday Asuku, noted that Nigeria is currently on the right trajectory be ause a competent leader is in the saddle.
According to him, the security of Benue, which had been plagued by insecurity for years, is a priority by the Tinubu administration, hence the establishment of an army division in the state among other measures, which have improved the state’s security.
Asuku said a vote for Tinubu will ensure that his good initiatives for the state are fully delivered.
The National coordinator also advised the voters to ignore leaders who swore to remove petrol subsidy but became turncoats after seeing that it is a tough choice, but rather vote for a leader like Tinubu who has brought bold reforms are laying a solid foundation for a better Nigeria.
“Say no to cowardice, no to those only interested in selling Nigeria’s assets. Ask them what they did when they were in office. A vote for Tinubu is a vote for NELFUND, improved security and better infrastructure,” he added.
Also speaking, former governor of the state, Senator Gabriel Suswam, called on the people to vote for Tinubu, pointing out that his policies are laying a foundation for young Nigerians.
“Yes, there’s suffering now but there’s no way you can build a future without experiencing some pains. You’re experiencing some hardship but tomorrow will be better.
“We are suffering today because those steps were not taken by previous administrations. So if you have a leader that is taking steps towards building a nigeria for the future he deserves support,” he stated.
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