…signs peace accord ahead of general elections
By Ismail Azeez
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on Nigerians, civil society organisations, development partners, and the media to work together toward building a stronger and more vibrant democratic society.
Tinubu made the call on Tuesday at the signing of the peace accord ahead of the 2027 presidential election, noting that democracy goes beyond the conduct of periodic elections and the emergence of political office holders.
The President, who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, said active citizen participation, public trust in institutions, civic engagement, and a collective commitment to good governance are essential ingredients for sustaining democracy.
According to him, “I call on all Nigerians, civil society organisations, our foreign partners, and the media to join us 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.”
Speaking on the off-cycle state elections, Tinubu hailed the introduction of the Permanent Voter Card (PVC) and the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), an electronic card reader, which he noted has eliminated vote manipulation, ballot stuffing, and snatching at polling units.
“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.”
“Since 1999, when our country returned to democratic governance under the stewardship of General Abubakar and his team, every election period has brought its share of anxiety because of the nature of our politics and the intense competition for power by political actors.”
“While politics and the contest for power can be loud and often create tension and disagreement among politicians, we must acknowledge the progress we have made in our electoral process in terms of transparency and election management by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).”
“With the aid of technology, INEC has recorded remarkable improvement in every election cycle. The introduction of the Permanent Voter Card and BVAS, an electronic card reader, has eliminated vote manipulation, ballot stuffing, and snatching at polling units.”
“These improvements have restored power to the voters, who are now sure that their votes will count. Politicians are now more accountable to the people because votes count. These polls have also demonstrated our capacity as a people to conduct ourselves with maturity and restraint.”
“Between October 2025 and August 15, 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.”
He added, “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. 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. 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.”
“We have gathered today to commit ourselves to a peaceful and transparent electoral process. Signing this peace accord is a solemn pledge to the Nigerian people that we, as leaders, will put the nation’s interest above personal or partisan ambitions,” he said.