President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has pledged the All Progressives Congress (APC) to a peaceful 2027 election campaign, signing a peace accord that commits the ruling party to reject violence, hate speech, and misinformation throughout the political season.
The commitment was made Tuesday in Abuja during the signing of the 2027 Peace Accord, with Tinubu represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume. The president urged all political parties, candidates, and their supporters to reject violence, hate speech, misinformation, and the exploitation of ethnic and religious sentiments during the campaign period.
“As the campaign season kicks off, I commit myself and my party, the All Progressives Congress, to the tenets of this accord,” Tinubu said in a statement. He acknowledged that political disagreements and competing policy visions are legitimate elements of democracy but warned that campaigns must not threaten national cohesion. “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.”
The president called for the 2027 contest to become a battle of ideas, policies, and programmes capable of improving the lives of Nigerians. “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.
The APC explicitly rejected 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,” Tinubu added.
He cautioned against treating elections as a do-or-die affair, stressing that all political actors remain partners in nation-building. “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.”
Tinubu commended the National Peace Committee, including former Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto, and Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, for promoting peaceful elections since 2014. He also highlighted improvements in Nigeria’s electoral process, particularly the deployment of technology by the Independent National Electoral Commission through the Permanent Voter’s Card and Bimodal Voter Accreditation System.
The president expressed confidence that adherence to the Peace Accord would contribute to peaceful campaigns, credible elections, and stronger democratic institutions ahead of the 2027 polls. The accord represents a significant commitment from the ruling party to uphold democratic norms and sets a benchmark for opposition parties as the country prepares for its next general election cycle.
