The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has asked Nigerians not to vote for those who violate the National Peace Accord for the 2027 elections.

Obi spoke on Tuesday before the commencement of the signing of the National Peace Accord ahead of the elections billed for January and February.

When asked what should be the punishment for anyone or any party that violates the accord, the NDC chieftain said, “Well, the punishment is that Nigerians should not vote for them.”

The NDC candidate said those who wish to hold political office “should be exemplary”.

“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 also called for a credible election next year, saying, “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?”

The former Anambra governor decried the violence in the lead up to the Osun governorship election, referencing his tweet about the poll.

He proposed, “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. It shouldn’t be. It is painful, and I wish It never happened again.”

On whether he believes in Nigeria’s electoral process, Obi said, “Well, because I want to change the process, I have to go through it. So, I have to believe in it.”

The National Peace Accord signing event was organised by the National Peace Committee (NPC) in partnership with The Kukah Centre.

It is the first phase of the exercise, with the second part set to take place after the 2027 elections. The NPC is a non-governmental body formed in 2014 as a response to emerging threats ahead of the 2015 general elections.

“It is an initiative made up of eminent elder statesmen who undertake efforts to support free, fair, and credible elections as well as intervene in critical issues of national concern through high-level mediated and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms,” the NPC wrote on its website.

Those who attended Tuesday’s event included the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, and the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Amupitan among others. (Channels TV)

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