2027 Elections: INEC Boss Urges Candidates to Honour Peace Accord, Reject Violence
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, has urged political parties and candidates contesting the 2027 general elections to honour the commitments contained in the National Peace Accord, warning that the credibility of the polls depends not only on the electoral commission but also on the conduct of political actors.
Amupitan made the call on Tuesday in Abuja during the signing of the First National Peace Accord by political parties and candidates ahead of the 2027 elections.
He said the commencement of public campaigns and rallies for the elections would begin on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, with the Presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for January 16, 2027, while the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections would hold on February 6, 2027.
Describing the signing of the accord as a critical milestone, the INEC chairman said Nigeria was entering a decisive phase of preparations for the elections.
“Before the first campaign flag is unfurled, before the first rally is staged, and before political rhetoric fills our public space, it is necessary that those who seek to lead this nation first gather to establish the ethical boundaries of their contest,” he said.
Amupitan said the accord represented a collective commitment to issue-based campaigns and urged political actors to reject character assassination, identity-based manipulation and inflammatory rhetoric.
“By signing this Accord, you are committing to an issue-based campaign,” he said, adding that Nigeria’s challenges and opportunities were too important to be overshadowed by bitterness and divisive politics.
The INEC chairman warned that the peace accord would have little value if political leaders failed to ensure compliance by their supporters and campaign structures.
“It is not the signatures written on this Accord today that preserve democracy; it is the character of the leaders who hold the pen,” he said.
He urged presidential candidates and party leaders to ensure that the provisions of the accord were communicated and adhered to by their state-level supporters, local government executives, ward canvassers and grassroots campaign structures.
Amupitan also warned against incitement, the use of private armed groups and digital disinformation, saying such practices could undermine the electoral process even before election day.
He assured Nigerians that INEC was committed to improving the transparency and credibility of the 2027 elections, including through additional measures in the management and transmission of election results.
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According to him, the commission would continue to work towards ensuring that the choices of Nigerian voters were accurately reflected in the final results.
Peace committee cites previous accords
Earlier, the Chairman of the National Peace Committee, former Head of State, General Abdulsalami A. Abubakar, GCFR, represented by General Martin Luther Agwai, CFR, said the committee had facilitated 30 peace accords since 2015.
Agwai said five of the accords were signed at the national level ahead of the 2015, 2019 and 2023 general elections, while 25 were facilitated at the sub-national level, including states that conducted off-cycle elections.
He disclosed that the committee had also established independent state-based peace structures in 23 states to complement its national peace-building efforts.
Agwai explained that the issue-based campaign component of the accord was introduced in 2019 to encourage political parties and candidates to focus on policies, programmes and ideas rather than sentiments and personal attacks.
He urged political actors to compete fairly, debate opposing views respectfully, mobilise supporters peacefully, protect voters and respect electoral institutions.
The National Peace Committee also warned against hate speech, misinformation, incitement and other narratives capable of triggering intimidation and electoral violence.
Police pledge impartiality
Representing the Inspector-General of Police, DIG Umar Shehu Nadada, said the Nigeria Police Force would remain professional and impartial throughout the electoral process.
He said the police would work with INEC, the military, intelligence agencies and other security and law-enforcement bodies to provide a secure environment for peaceful political activities and credible elections.
Nadada, however, stressed that security agencies could not guarantee peaceful elections without the cooperation of political actors.
He urged political parties and candidates to take responsibility for the conduct of their supporters and campaign organisations.
“You cannot publicly preach peace while actively encouraging violence. You cannot call for a credible election whilst simultaneously undermining the institutions responsible for conducting them,” he warned.
The police chief also appealed to political leaders to stop recruiting or mobilising young Nigerians for political violence, urging them instead to harness the energy of the youth for democratic renewal.
The signing of the First National Peace Accord marks the formal commencement of a crucial phase in preparations for the 2027 general elections, with political campaigns officially commencing on Wednesday.
By PRNigeria
