Peace Committee Warns Tinubu, Atiku, Obi, Others Against Inflammatory Campaigns
The National Peace Committee, chaired by former Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar and convened by Most Rev. Matthew Kukah, has warned President Bola Tinubu, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and other political actors against inflammatory and inciting campaigns ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The committee also raised the alarm over 60 election-related incidents recorded across the country within one month, including political violence, intimidation, threats, attacks on political activities and misinformation.
The NPC made its position known in a statement jointly signed by Abubakar and Kukah on Monday.
The statement partly read, “To political parties, candidates, and supporters: Immediately stop false, inflammatory or inciting communication. Uphold the commitments of the Accord, verify information before publication, and actively prevent supporters from engaging in unlawful conduct, intimidation, or disruption.
“As the 2027 electoral cycle progresses, the message of the NPC remains clear and unwavering. Every candidate must be able to campaign peacefully; every political party must be able to organise lawfully; and every citizen must be able to make a political choice without intimidation or coercion.
“To INEC, strengthen monitoring of political campaigns and ensure compliance with the Electoral Act 2026 and applicable regulations governing political parties and campaign conduct.
“Where breaches are identified, the commission should take appropriate regulatory action within its mandate and promptly refer suspected criminal violations to the relevant law-enforcement agencies.”
The panel also called on security agencies to intensify investigations into electoral offences and political violence. “The Committee reminds all signatories that the National Peace Accord is a solemn public commitment, not a ceremonial declaration.
“To the Nigeria Police Force and Security Agencies: Intensify prompt, impartial, and evidence-driven investigations into electoral offences and political violence,” it added.
The warning came barely six weeks after political parties and presidential and National Assembly candidates signed the first National Peace Accord for the 2027 electoral cycle, pledging to shun violence, hate speech, misinformation, personal attacks and other conduct capable of undermining the elections.
The committee said its Election Security Information Hub monitored political conduct and developments between August 19 and September 19, recording 60 election-related incidents, many of which ran contrary to the commitments made under the accord.
Misinformation and disinformation constituted the largest category, accounting for 24 incidents, or 40 per cent of the total.
The NPC highlighted that the falsehood was followed by attacks and disruptions affecting political activities and assets, with 13 incidents, representing 21.7 per cent, while political intimidation and threats, including incidents involving security personnel, accounted for 10 cases, or 16.7 per cent.
Political violence and thuggery accounted for six incidents, representing 10 per cent, while inflammatory statements made up four cases, or 6.7 per cent.
The committee also recorded one incident each involving restrictions on freedom of expression, intra-party conflicts and voter inducement.
The NPC said the figures showed “deviations from peaceful and issue-based campaigns by political actors and their supporters” as envisaged by the Peace Accord.
It warned that such developments could restrict political participation, erode public confidence in the electoral system and escalate tensions as political competition intensifies.
The hub was launched in Abuja on October 14, 2025, in collaboration with the European Union through its Support to Democratic Governance Programme in Nigeria to track, analyse and respond to election-related threats.
The latest warning followed the August 18 signing of the National Peace Accord by major political parties and candidates ahead of the commencement of public campaigns.
The ceremony, organised by the NPC in partnership with The Kukah Centre, was attended by the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Joash Amupitan; political party leaders; presidential and National Assembly candidates; the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu; and members of the diplomatic community.
Tinubu, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume; the Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Peter Obi; Social Democratic Party candidate, Adewole Adebayo; and African Action Congress candidate, Omoyele Sowore, were among those who signed the accord.
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, and Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, the presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples’ Movement, were, however, absent from the ceremony.
The INEC chairman, Amupitan, had also warned of an “alarming resurgence” of hate speech, toxic polarisation, coordinated misinformation and personality-driven political discourse.
He said the trend was particularly disturbing as Nigeria approached what was expected to be one of the most fiercely contested elections since the return to democratic rule in 1999.
