The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, has warned political parties and candidates against inflammatory campaigns, violence, and disinformation as political activities for the 2027 general elections enter a critical phase.
Amupitan spoke on Tuesday in Abuja at the signing of the First National Peace Accord for the 2027 elections, where he urged political leaders to ensure that their supporters and campaign organisations abide by the commitments contained in the accord.
The INEC chairman said the credibility of the elections would depend not only on the electoral commission but also on the conduct of political actors.
He said campaigns for the presidential and National Assembly elections would begin on Wednesday, August 19, while the elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027.
The governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections are scheduled for February 6, 2027, with campaigns for those elections set to begin on September 9. INEC’s revised timetable confirms the dates.
“Before the first campaign flag is unfurled, before the first rally is staged, and before political rhetoric fills our public space, it is necessary that those who seek to lead this nation first gather to establish the ethical boundaries of their contest,” Amupitan said.
He described the peace accord as an important milestone in preparations for the elections and said its provisions were intended to promote issue-based campaigns rather than personal attacks and divisive rhetoric.
“By signing this Accord, you are committing to an issue-based campaign,” he said.
Amupitan urged politicians to focus their campaigns on the country’s challenges, policies, and programs rather than on character assassination, identity politics, and inflammatory statements.
He warned, however, that the accord would have little value if political leaders failed to ensure that its provisions were respected by their supporters.
“It is not the signatures written on this Accord today that preserve democracy; it is the character of the leaders who hold the pen,” he said.
The INEC chairman urged presidential candidates and party leaders to pass the commitments in the accord down to their state structures, local government executives, ward canvassers and grassroots supporters.
He specifically warned against incitement, the use of private armed groups, and digital disinformation, saying such activities could undermine the electoral process even before voting begins.
Amupitan also assured Nigerians that INEC was taking steps to improve the transparency of the 2027 elections, including additional measures to manage election results.
He said the commission would continue to work towards ensuring that the votes cast by Nigerians are accurately reflected in the final results.
The emphasis on rebuilding public confidence comes as INEC has previously identified public trust as a major challenge ahead of the 2027 elections. In March, Amupitan asked the National Peace Committee and other stakeholders to help address the trust deficit and encourage greater participation in the electoral process.
NPC: 30 peace accords facilitated since 2015
Earlier, the Chairman of the National Peace Committee (NPC), former Head of State General Abdulsalami A. Abubakar, GCFR, represented by General Martin Luther Agwai, CFR, said the committee had facilitated 30 peace accords since 2015.
Agwai said five of the accords were signed nationally ahead of the 2015, 2019 and 2023 general elections, while 25 were facilitated at the sub-national level, including in states that conducted off-cycle elections.
He said the committee had also established independent state-based peace structures in 23 states to strengthen its peacebuilding efforts.
According to him, the issue-based campaign component of the accord was introduced in 2019 to encourage political parties and candidates to campaign on ideas, policies, and programs rather than sentiments and personal attacks.
He urged politicians to compete fairly, respect opposing views, mobilize their supporters peacefully, protect voters, and respect electoral institutions.
The committee also warned against hate speech, misinformation, incitement and other forms of political communication capable of provoking intimidation and violence.
The NPC’s work on the 2027 elections follows an earlier stakeholder engagement in March, when the committee presented an Annotated Peace Accord to political parties, security agencies, INEC and civil society groups. The document was designed to provide clearer guidance to political actors amid concerns over political tension, misinformation and security threats.
Police promise neutrality
Representing the Inspector-General of Police, DIG Umar Shehu Nadada said the Nigeria Police Force would remain professional and impartial throughout the electoral process.
He said the police would work with INEC, the military, intelligence agencies and other security and law-enforcement bodies to provide the security required for peaceful campaigns and credible elections.
Nadada, however, said security agencies could not guarantee peaceful elections without the cooperation of political actors.
“You cannot publicly preach peace while actively encouraging violence. You cannot call for a credible election whilst simultaneously undermining the institutions responsible for conducting them,” he warned.
He appealed to political leaders to stop recruiting or mobilising young Nigerians for political violence, urging them instead to channel the energy of young people towards democratic participation and renewal.
The signing of the accord comes on the eve of the formal commencement of campaigns for the presidential and National Assembly elections, marking the beginning of a prolonged political contest culminating in the January 2027 polls.
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