*Photo: President Bola Tinubu*
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on all political parties, candidates and other signatories to the peace accord ahead of the 2027 general elections to exercise restraint and refrain from exploiting ethnic, religious and other primordial sentiments in the pursuit of political power.
The President made the call on Tuesday, 18th August, 2026, in Abuja at the signing of the Peace Accord ahead of the 2027 Presidential Election, where he was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF)
, Senator George Akume.
Yomi Odunuga, Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the SGF disclosed in a press statement on Tuesday that President Tinubu said political disagreements and competing visions were legitimate features of democracy, but warned that campaigns must never be allowed to undermine national cohesion or threaten the bonds holding Nigerians together.
“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. We may exchange occasional political jabs. But as members of the same household, the same national family, we must never resort to divisive or primordial sentiments of ethnicity or religion as tools for seeking power,” the President said.
He urged political actors to make the forthcoming campaigns a contest of ideas, policies and programmes capable of improving the lives of Nigerians and advancing the country’s development.
“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 stated.
President Tinubu reaffirmed his personal commitment and that of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the principles and obligations of the Peace Accord, stressing that the ruling party would conduct its campaign in a manner that promotes peace and national stability.
“As the campaign season kicks off, I commit myself and my party, the All Progressives Congress, to the tenets of this accord,” he said.
The President declared that the APC rejects violence, hate speech, misinformation and every form of incitement, including the misuse of emerging technologies and social media to manipulate public opinion or inflame tensions.
“Our party rejects violence, hate speech, the spread of misinformation, including through artificial intelligence, and all forms of incitement, especially via social media. We are committed to peaceful, transparent elections that will strengthen political stability, social harmony, economic progress, and our nation’s prosperity. I encourage other political parties and political actors to do the same,” he said.
President Tinubu reminded candidates and their supporters that elections should never be treated as a do-or-die contest, noting that political actors, irrespective of party affiliation, remain partners in the collective task of building the nation.
“Let us remember that elections are not a do-or-die affair. We are partners in the project of nation-building. Win or lose, our country, Nigeria, must be the ultimate winner,” he added.
The President commended the National Peace Committee (NPC), particularly former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar; the Sultan of Sokoto; and Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, for convening the event and for their sustained contribution to peaceful elections in Nigeria.
He noted that since 2014, the National Peace Committee has remained steadfast in promoting peace accords through which political parties and candidates commit themselves to non-violent and issue-based campaigns during national and off-cycle elections.
President Tinubu observed that since Nigeria’s return to democratic governance in 1999 under the stewardship of General Abdulsalami Abubakar and his team, election periods had often generated anxiety because of the intense competition for political power.
He, however, noted that despite the tension and disagreements that sometimes accompany political contests, Nigeria had made significant progress in the transparency and management of elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
According to the President, the deployment of technology by INEC has brought remarkable improvements to the electoral process, particularly through the introduction of the Permanent Voter’s Card and the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).
He said the innovations had helped to curb voting manipulation, ballot stuffing and ballot snatching at polling units, while strengthening the confidence of citizens that their votes would count.
The President added that the improvements had made politicians more accountable to the electorate and demonstrated the capacity of Nigerians to conduct themselves with maturity and restraint during elections.
He cited the three off-season governorship elections held in Anambra, Ekiti and Osun States between October 2025 and August 15, 2026, noting that different political parties emerged victorious in the elections, which local and international observers described as free, credible and transparent.
President Tinubu further observed that transparent electoral processes and outcomes had contributed to reducing post-election litigation, stressing that confidence in the integrity of elections remains crucial to the consolidation of Nigeria’s democracy.
He described the signing of the Peace Accord as a solemn commitment by political leaders to place the nation’s interest above personal and partisan ambitions and ensure a peaceful and transparent electoral process.
The President called on Nigerians, civil society organisations, development partners and the media to support efforts to deepen democracy and build a stronger and more vibrant democratic society.
He stressed that democracy goes beyond periodic elections and the emergence of political office holders, noting that it also encompasses citizens’ participation in national affairs, confidence in public institutions, civic engagement, good governance, justice and equity.
President Tinubu expressed confidence that adherence to the Peace Accord by political parties, candidates and their supporters would contribute significantly to peaceful campaigns and credible elections in 2027, while strengthening political stability, social harmony and economic progress in the country.