President Bola Tinubu has warned political parties and their candidates against exploiting ethnic and religious divisions to gain political advantage ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Tinubu also cautioned politicians against treating the forthcoming elections as a “do-or-die” affair, urging them to focus their campaigns on ideas, policies and programmes capable of improving the lives of Nigerians.
The President spoke on Tuesday in Abuja during the signing of the Peace Accord ahead of the 2027 presidential election. He was represented at the event by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume.
Tinubu said while disagreements and competing political visions were natural in a democracy, political campaigns must not be allowed to undermine national unity and social stability.
“We may exchange occasional political jabs. 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.
The President urged political parties and candidates to make the 2027 campaigns issue-based, challenging them to present policies and practical programmes that would promote national development.
“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 further appealed to political actors to approach the election as a contest of ideas rather than a battle for survival, stressing that candidates across party lines remained partners in nation-building.
Tinubu reaffirmed the commitment of the All Progressives Congress to the Peace Accord, saying the ruling party opposed electoral violence, hate speech, misinformation and incitement.
“Our party rejects violence, hate speech, the spread of misinformation, including through artificial intelligence, and all forms of incitement, especially via social media,” he stated.
He said the APC remained committed to peaceful and transparent elections that would strengthen political stability, social harmony and economic progress.
The President also commended the National Peace Committee, chaired by former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, for its continued efforts to promote peaceful elections through the signing of peace accords since 2014.
Tinubu noted that election periods had historically generated anxiety because of intense competition for political power but said Nigeria had made progress in the transparency and management of elections.
He cited recent electoral reforms, including the Permanent Voter’s Card and the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, as tools that had improved election transparency and reduced ballot manipulation.
The President also referenced the recent off-cycle governorship elections in Anambra, Ekiti and Osun states as evidence of growing voter confidence and improvements in electoral management.
The Peace Accord comes as political parties and candidates prepare for the 2027 electoral cycle, with public campaigns scheduled to commence on Wednesday.
