President Bola Tinubu, Peter Obi of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress (AAC) have signed the national peace accord ahead of the 2027 general election.

The accord was signed on Tuesday at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja, in the presence of representatives of other presidential candidates, political party chairmen, governorship and National Assembly candidates, and other political leaders.

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Amupitan, also attended the ceremony.

Tinubu was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, who delivered the President’s remarks.

Akume commended the National Peace Committee, led by former Head of State Abdulsalami Abubakar, Sultan of Sokoto Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar and Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, for sustaining the peace initiative since 2014.

He acknowledged the tension that often accompanies Nigeria’s elections but said the country had recorded progress in electoral transparency and election management, particularly through the deployment of technology by INEC.

Akume said the peace accord represented a commitment by political leaders to place national interest above personal ambition.

He urged politicians to avoid divisive rhetoric and the use of religion or ethnicity as tools for seeking political power.

“Let us campaign on superior arguments and debate issues and promote the best policies,” he said, stressing that elections should not be treated as a do-or-die affair.

Speaking at the event, Obi said he was participating in the political process because he wanted to change it.

He said he had no fears ahead of the 2027 election and urged Nigerians not to vote for any candidate who violates the principles of the peace accord.

The signing comes as political parties and candidates intensify preparations for the 2027 general election.