President Bola Tinubu has committed himself and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the tenets of the National Peace Accord ahead of the 2027 general elections, calling on political parties, politicians and non-state groups to work together to tackle electoral fraud and violence so as to preserve the country’s democratic system.
Speaking through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, at the signing of the peace accord on Tuesday, 19 August 2026, in Abuja, Tinubu said: “In the spirit of the accord we have just signed, we must conduct ourselves in ways that strengthen, not tear, the fabric of our society. It is natural during campaigns to disagree as opponents and advocate competing governing visions for our country.”
The President thanked members of the National Peace Committee (NPC), especially former Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto and Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, for convening the occasion. “Our nation owes the NPC a debt of gratitude for your steadfastness since 2014 in promoting peace accords that commit political parties and candidates to run non-violent, issue-based campaigns during national and off-cycle state elections,” he said.
Tinubu noted that with the aid of technology, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has recorded remarkable improvement in every election cycle. He cited the introduction of the permanent voters card and the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) as having eliminated voting manipulation, ballot stuffing and snatching at polling units, adding that these improvements have restored power to the voters.
“Between October 2025 and 15 August 2026, we witnessed three off-season polls in Anambra, Ekiti, and Osun States. Different parties won them, and local and foreign observers described them as free, credible, and transparent. When the process and outcome are manifestly transparent, we see less post-election litigation in our courts,” Tinubu said.
He urged all Nigerians, civil society organisations, foreign partners and the media to join in deepening and building a stronger, more vibrant democratic society. “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.
Tinubu warned against the use of divisive or primordial sentiments of ethnicity or religion as tools for seeking power. “Let us campaign on superior ideas. Let us debate issues and promote the best policies to expand opportunities for our people and accelerate Nigeria’s journey from a developing nation to a first-world country,” he said.
“As the campaign season kicks off, I commit myself and my party, the All Progressives Congress, to the tenets of this accord. Our party rejects violence, hate speech, the spread of misinformation, including through artificial intelligence, and all forms of incitement, especially via social media,” Tinubu added.
The peace accord, organised by the National Peace Committee chaired by former Head of State Abdulsalami Abubakar in partnership with The Kukah Centre, commits political parties, presidential candidates and other political actors to conduct their campaigns peacefully, avoid inflammatory rhetorics and violence, and accept the outcome of elections or seek redress through lawful means.
The signing ceremony took place at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja, a day before the official commencement of campaigns for the 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections.