President Bola Tinubu has warned politicians contesting the 2027 general elections against exploiting ethnic and religious sentiments to gain political advantage.
Tinubu issued the warning in Abuja during the signing of the peace accord ahead of the 2027 elections.
Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, the President urged political parties and their candidates to commit themselves to peaceful and transparent elections.
He described the signing of the accord as a solemn pledge to Nigerians that political leaders would place the national interest above personal and partisan ambitions.
Tinubu noted that technological improvements had strengthened Nigeria’s electoral process, particularly through the Permanent Voter Cards and the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System.
“The introduction of the permanent voters card and BVAS, an electronic card reader, has eliminated voting manipulation, ballot stuffing, and snatching at polling units,” he said.
The President acknowledged the tension that usually accompanies electoral contests but said Nigeria had made progress in election management and transparency.
He thanked members of the National Peace Committee, particularly former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto and Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, for their efforts in promoting peaceful elections.
Tinubu said the peace accord was an opportunity for political leaders to reaffirm their commitment to non-violent and issue-based campaigns.
According to him, elections conducted through a transparent process could reduce post-election disputes and strengthen public confidence in democracy.
He said three off-cycle governorship elections had been conducted between October 2025 and August 15, 2026, in Anambra, Ekiti and Osun states, with different political parties emerging victorious.
The President said the outcome of the elections demonstrated that Nigeria could conduct competitive elections with maturity and restraint.
“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.
Tinubu urged Nigerians, civil society organisations, international partners and the media to contribute to strengthening democracy and public institutions.
He said democracy was not merely about periodic elections but also about citizen participation, public trust, civic engagement and good governance.
The President warned politicians against using ethnicity and religion as instruments of political mobilisation.
“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,” he said.
He urged political parties to campaign based on ideas, policies and competing visions for the country.
“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,” Tinubu said.
He pledged the commitment of the APC to the peace accord, saying the party rejected violence, hate speech, misinformation, including AI-generated misinformation, and incitement on social media.
The President also reminded political actors that elections should not be treated as a do-or-die affair.
“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 said.
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