Nigeria and Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has urged Nigerians not to vote for politicians who violate the National Peace Accord ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Obi made the call Tuesday before political parties and other stakeholders signed the first phase of the peace accord organised by the National Peace Committee in partnership with The Kukah Centre.
Asked what punishment should be imposed on anyone or any political party that violates the accord, Obi said the electorate should reject them at the polls.
“Well, the punishment is that Nigerians should not vote for them,” he said.
Obi said politicians seeking public office should set an example through their conduct.
“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.
The former Anambra governor also called for a credible 2027 election in which voters' choices would be respected.
“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.
Obi also condemned the violence recorded ahead of the Osun governorship election, saying no Nigerian should have to die because of an election.
“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.
“It shouldn’t be. It is painful, and I wish it never happened again.”
Asked whether he still believed in Nigeria’s electoral process, Obi said he had to believe in it because he intended to change 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 is aimed at promoting peaceful, free and credible elections and encouraging political actors to commit to non-violence before, during and after elections.
The National Peace Committee was established in 2014 ahead of the 2015 general elections and comprises prominent elder statesmen who support electoral peace and intervene in disputes through mediation.
Tuesday’s event was attended by other political actors, including African Action Congress presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore and Independent National Electoral Commission Chairman Joash Amupitan.
The signing exercise is being conducted in two phases, with the second phase scheduled to take place after the 2027 elections.
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