Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has called on political parties and their candidates to ensure peaceful, credible and issue-based campaigns ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Obi made the call on Tuesday in Abuja during the signing of the National Peace Accord organised by the National Peace Committee in collaboration with the Kukah Centre.
Speaking with journalists before the ceremony, the former Anambra State governor said no Nigerian should lose their life because of an election.
He urged political aspirants to demonstrate responsible conduct and ensure that their actions reflect the offices they seek to occupy.
“We have a peaceful, issue-based campaign. We must, for the sake of this country, ensure that our conduct reflects the office we’re seeking and our behaviour,” Obi said.
He added, “We must do the right thing and campaign on issues that Nigerians are going through today.”
Obi argued that candidates should not require a peace accord to behave responsibly, stressing that those seeking public office should be exemplary in their conduct.
“We don’t even need to sign this. We’re seeking an office where we should be exemplary. You can’t answer ‘His Excellency’ without being an excellent person,” he said.
The presidential hopeful also called for the remembrance of people who lost their lives during the recent Osun State governorship election.
He urged political actors to visit and console the families of the victims while taking steps to prevent a recurrence of election-related deaths.
“Let us not forget those who died in ensuring that the election in Osun was achieved. We should visit them, console their families, remain prayerful and conduct ourselves in a way that in our democracy, nobody needs to die for an election,” Obi said.
On whether he remained confident in Nigeria’s electoral system despite challenges associated with previous elections, Obi said his desire to reform the process was one of the reasons he remained committed to participating.
“Because I want to change the process, I have to go through it, so I have to believe in it,” he said.
Obi also backed calls for stronger sanctions against politicians who violate the provisions of the peace agreement, but maintained that the most effective punishment should come from voters.
Asked what sanction should be imposed on candidates or parties that breach the accord, he said, “The punishment is that Nigerians should not vote for them.”
He further said the country needed an election in which citizens could freely choose their leaders and have confidence that their votes would determine the outcome.
Asked about his major concern ahead of the 2027 election, Obi said, “I don’t have any fear, except to say that please, for the sake of the children of Nigeria, can we have an election where people’s vote will count?”
He maintained that whether the agreement was called a peace accord or a justice accord, the responsibility for maintaining its principles ultimately rested with individual candidates.
“Personal conduct of the candidate must reflect the office he’s seeking. Behaviour, expression, anytime, must reflect that office,” he said.
His comments come as political parties and presidential hopefuls intensify preparations for the 2027 elections, with issues such as the economy, insecurity, unemployment, the rising cost of living and electoral credibility expected to dominate political campaigns.
