By Ayomide Otitoju
The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has urged Nigerians not to vote for political candidates or parties that violate the National Peace Accord ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Obi made the call on Tuesday shortly before the signing of the National Peace Accord ahead of the elections scheduled for January and February 2027.
Asked about the appropriate punishment for candidates or parties that breach the accord, Obi said voters should reject them at the polls.
“Well, the punishment is that Nigerians should not vote for them,” he said.
The former Anambra State governor stressed that individuals seeking public office should conduct themselves as role models.
“You can’t answer ‘His Excellency’ without being an excellent person. So, the process that will make you answer ‘His Excellency’ should be excellent, and the only way to do it is to conduct yourself properly,” he said.
Obi also called for credible elections in 2027, urging authorities to ensure that Nigerians’ votes count.
“I don’t have any fear [going into next year’s election] except to say that, please, for the sake of the children of Nigeria, can we have an election where people’s votes will count?” he said.
He also condemned the violence recorded ahead of the Osun State governorship election, referring to his earlier comments on the poll.
Obi called for support for families affected by the violence and urged political actors and citizens to promote peaceful democratic practices.
“We should comfort their families, and we should remain prayerful and conduct ourselves in a way that in our democracy, nobody needs to die for an election,” he said.
Asked whether he still believed in Nigeria’s electoral process, Obi said his desire to reform the system required him to participate in it.
“Well, because I want to change the process, I have to go through it. So, I have to believe in it,” he said.
The National Peace Accord signing ceremony was organised by the National Peace Committee (NPC) in partnership with The Kukah Centre.
The signing represents the first phase of the peace initiative, with a second phase scheduled to take place after the 2027 elections.
The NPC was established in 2014 in response to concerns over potential threats ahead of the 2015 general elections. The committee comprises prominent elder statesmen who work to support free, fair and credible elections and intervene in critical national issues through mediation and alternative dispute resolution.
Among those who attended Tuesday’s event were the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, and the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Amupitan, among others.
