By our Reporter
Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has urged political parties and candidates contesting the 2027 General Election to uphold the commitments contained in the National Peace Accord, warning that the credibility of the elections depends not only on the electoral umpire 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 General Election.
The INEC Chairman said Wednesday, August 19, 2026, marks the commencement of public campaigns and rallies for the 2027 elections, with the Presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for January 16, 2027, while the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will hold on February 6, 2027.
Describing the signing of the accord as a critical milestone, Amupitan noted that the country was exactly five months away from the 2027 General Election.
“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.
He urged political actors to commit themselves to issue-based campaigns and move away from character assassination, identity manipulation and inflammatory rhetoric.
“By signing this Accord, you are committing to an issue-based campaign,” Amupitan said, stressing that Nigeria’s challenges and opportunities were too important to be overshadowed by bitterness and divisive politics.
He warned that the accord would have little meaning if political leaders failed to ensure that its provisions were respected 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.
The INEC Chairman urged presidential candidates and party leaders to ensure that the obligations of the accord were communicated to their state supporters, local government executives, ward canvassers and grassroots supporters.
He also warned against incitement, the deployment of private armed squads and digital disinformation, saying such practices could undermine the electoral process long before Election Day.
Amupitan assured Nigerians that INEC remained committed to improving the transparency of the 2027 elections, including through additional measures in the result-management process.
He said the Commission would continue to work towards ensuring that the choice of Nigerian voters was accurately reflected in the final electoral outcome.
Earlier, the Chairman of the National Peace Committee (NPC), 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 added that the committee had established independent state-based peace structures in 23 states to complement its national peacebuilding 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 ideas, policies and programmes 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 NPC also cautioned against hate speech, misinformation, incitement and other narratives capable of generating intimidation and violence during the electoral process.
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 collaborate 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 secure the elections alone, urging 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.
He also appealed to political leaders to stop mobilising young Nigerians for political violence, urging them instead to make youths instruments of democratic renewal.
The signing of the First National Peace Accord marks the formal commencement of a crucial phase in preparations for the 2027 General Election.
