The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Amupitan, has urged political parties and candidates to make the 2027 election campaign a “marketplace of ideas” rather than a “theatre of war”.

Amupitan made the call on Tuesday in Abuja at the signing of the first National Peace Accord for the 2027 general elections, facilitated by the National Peace Committee led by former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar.

Addressing the presidential candidates and party leaders at the event, the INEC chairman described the document as more than a ceremonial agreement, saying it represented a commitment to the Nigerian people.

“The document you are about to sign is not a mere piece of paper. It is a covenant and a social contract with the Nigerian people, and it is a contract with statutory and constitutional flavour,” Amupitan said.

He urged political leaders to lead by example, noting that their supporters often take cues from their conduct and statements.

“Presidential candidates, if you speak the language of peace, they will act with peace; if you incite them, they will ignite,” he said.

‘Tell Nigerians What You Will Do’

Amupitan urged candidates to focus their campaigns on policies and solutions rather than personal attacks, asking them to explain to voters how they intend to address the country’s major challenges.

“Focus on what and how. Tell the voters what you will do for the economy, security and education and how you intend to achieve it,” he said.

He added, “Let the 2027 campaign be a marketplace of ideas, not a theatre of war.”

The INEC chairman also called on political actors to respect electoral laws and institutions, while encouraging constructive criticism.

He cautioned candidates and their supporters against making premature victory declarations or spreading information capable of undermining public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic institutions.

Amupitan also raised concerns over the growing influence of digital communication on elections, warning political actors and voters about the dangers of misinformation, disinformation, and foreign information manipulation and interference.

The professor of law urged all political parties and candidates to commit themselves fully to the provisions of the peace accord and conduct their campaigns with restraint and responsibility.

“Let us compete decently, but let us remember that at the end of this exercise, there will be no winner if Nigeria is not the winner,” he said.

The official campaign for the 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections begins Wednesday, August 19, 2026, with the elections scheduled for January 16, 2027, according to INEC’s timetable.

‘INEC Has No Candidate’

Amupitan assured Nigerians that INEC would remain neutral in the 2027 elections, stressing that the commission had no preferred candidate or political platform.

“Let me state unequivocally that INEC has no interest in who wins or loses any election, nor does it favour any political platform. Our only interest is a lawful, transparent, credible and inclusive process,” he said.

He further urged all registered political parties, presidential candidates and other candidates to internalise the commitments contained in the peace agreement.

The National Peace Committee introduced the peace accord ahead of the 2015 general elections as part of efforts to promote peaceful elections, mediate political disputes and encourage political actors to accept electoral outcomes.

The 2015 accord was signed by then-presidential candidates Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari and preceded Nigeria’s first democratic transfer of power from an incumbent ruling party to an opposition party since the return to democracy in 1999. The initiative has since been extended to several off-cycle governorship elections across the country.

The accord commits political parties and their candidates to peaceful conduct and issue-based campaigns before, during, and after the elections. (Channels TV)

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