Peaceful Campaigns, Peaceful Polls: Nigeria’s Push For Credible Elections

Nigeria’s political landscape has entered another crucial phase ahead of the 2027 general elections, with presidential candidates and political parties committing themselves to peaceful campaigns and a violence-free electoral process.

At a recent ceremony, presidential candidates, party leaders, election officials, security chiefs, religious leaders, diplomats and other stakeholders gathered to sign the first National Peace Accord for the 2027 elections.

The agreement, facilitated by the National Peace Committee in collaboration with The Kukah Centre, commits political parties and their candidates to campaigns based on issues, policies and ideas rather than violence, hate speech, ethnic or religious sentiments, misinformation and other actions capable of destabilising the country.

The development has renewed calls for political actors to ensure that the 2027 electoral contest remains peaceful, noting that Nigeria has adopted similar peace agreements during previous election cycles.

According to Ireporter Online, the 2015 presidential election remains one of the strongest examples of the potential impact of such commitments. The peace accord signed by then-President Goodluck Jonathan and opposition candidate Muhammadu Buhari was followed by a relatively peaceful transfer of power, with Jonathan accepting the outcome of the election.

However, subsequent elections have raised concerns over the effectiveness of peace accords, particularly when political actors and their supporters fail to honour the commitments made publicly.

During the 2023 election cycle, presidential candidates signed peace agreements before the polls, but the National Peace Committee later expressed concerns over violations. Reports indicated that party spokespersons accounted for a significant proportion of the breaches, followed by party members, presidential candidates, supporters and party chairpersons.

Political rallies were reportedly affected by violence, while campaign rhetoric became increasingly hostile and social media platforms were used to spread inflammatory messages, misinformation and personal attacks.

The European Union Election Observation Mission also raised concerns about adherence to peace commitments during the 2023 elections, particularly regarding accountability and sanctions for election-related offences.

The situation has therefore intensified calls for the 2027 peace accord to go beyond a ceremonial signing and become a practical commitment enforced throughout the electoral process.

Political parties are expected to communicate the provisions of the agreement to their structures at the national, state and local levels, while campaign organisations, spokespersons and social media teams are encouraged to ensure that their activities remain consistent with the principles of peaceful elections.

Stakeholders have also stressed the need for consequences for individuals or groups that repeatedly violate the agreement. Without accountability, observers warn that peace accords could become symbolic documents that attract public attention during signing ceremonies but lose relevance once political campaigns intensify.

President Bola Tinubu, who was represented at the event by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, urged political actors to place national interest above personal and partisan ambitions.

Tinubu maintained that political disagreements are normal in a democracy but warned against using ethnicity and religion as tools for securing political advantage.

He urged candidates to focus their campaigns on policies, programmes and practical solutions to the challenges facing Nigerians, rather than resorting to violence, hate speech or divisive rhetoric.

The President also stated that the All Progressives Congress remained committed to rejecting violence, misinformation, incitement and digital manipulation, including the misuse of artificial intelligence and social media.

Other stakeholders, including presidential candidate Peter Obi, also highlighted the responsibility of political leaders to demonstrate the character expected of those seeking public office.

As the 2027 campaigns gather momentum, the success of the latest peace accord will ultimately depend on what happens beyond the signing ceremony. Its effectiveness will be tested at campaign rallies, on television and radio, across social media platforms and, most importantly, at polling units across the country.

Nigeria therefore faces a critical task of ensuring that political competition remains a contest of ideas rather than a battle driven by violence, hatred and division. The real test of the accord will be whether candidates, parties and their supporters uphold its principles when political tensions rise and the stakes become higher.