The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Joash Amupitan, has called on political parties and candidates to conduct their campaigns for the 2027 general elections peacefully and focus on policies rather than personal attacks.
Amupitan made the appeal on Tuesday in Abuja during the signing of the first National Peace Accord ahead of the 2027 elections, organised by the National Peace Committee led by former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar.
Addressing presidential candidates and leaders of political parties, the INEC chairman described the peace accord as a binding commitment to Nigerians rather than a symbolic document.
He said the agreement represented a social contract between political actors and the electorate, with constitutional and statutory implications.
Amupitan urged political leaders to demonstrate peaceful conduct, warning that their supporters were likely to follow their example.
He said political leaders who promoted peace would encourage their followers to behave peacefully, while inflammatory statements could trigger violence.
The INEC chairman urged presidential candidates to make their campaigns centred on practical solutions to Nigeria’s challenges.
He challenged them to explain to Nigerians how they would improve the economy, strengthen security and reform education if elected.
“Let the 2027 campaign be a marketplace of ideas, not a theatre of war,” Amupitan said.
He also advised political parties and their supporters to respect electoral laws and institutions while engaging in constructive criticism.
Amupitan cautioned against premature declarations of victory and the spread of false information capable of weakening public confidence in the electoral process.
He further expressed concern about the role of digital platforms in shaping elections, warning of the potential impact of misinformation, disinformation and foreign interference.
According to him, political actors must exercise restraint and uphold the commitments contained in the peace agreement throughout the electoral process.
He said the ultimate objective should be to ensure that Nigeria emerges stronger regardless of which candidate wins the election.
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Amupitan also reiterated INEC’s neutrality, assuring political parties and Nigerians that the commission had no preferred candidate or political platform.
He said INEC’s interest was limited to delivering an election that was lawful, transparent, credible and inclusive.
The 2027 presidential and National Assembly election campaigns are scheduled to officially commence on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, while the elections are slated for January 16, 2027.
The National Peace Committee first introduced the peace accord ahead of the 2015 general elections as an initiative to promote peaceful elections, encourage issue-based campaigns and help political actors resolve disputes.
The 2015 agreement was signed by then-presidential candidates Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari and preceded the first democratic transfer of power from an incumbent ruling party to an opposition party since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999.
The initiative has since been extended to several off-cycle governorship elections across the country.
The accord commits political parties and candidates to peaceful conduct and issue-based campaigns before, during and after elections.