ABUJA — The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, has called on political parties and candidates contesting the 2027 general elections to make their campaigns 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, an initiative facilitated by the National Peace Committee, led by former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar.
The INEC chairman urged presidential candidates and political party leaders to see the peace accord as more than a ceremonial document, describing it as a commitment and social contract with the Nigerian people.
According to him, the agreement carries statutory and constitutional significance and should guide the conduct of political actors throughout the electoral process.
“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, stressing that their supporters often take direction from their statements and conduct during election periods.
The INEC chairman warned that inflammatory statements by political leaders could encourage violence among their supporters, while messages promoting peace could help foster peaceful political participation.
“Presidential candidates, if you speak the language of peace, they will act with peace; if you incite them, they will ignite,” he said.
Candidates Asked to Focus on Policies
Amupitan also urged presidential candidates to focus their campaigns on policies, programmes and practical solutions to Nigeria’s challenges instead of personal attacks and inflammatory rhetoric.
He challenged candidates to clearly explain to Nigerians what they intend to do if elected and how they plan to achieve their promises, particularly in critical areas such as the economy, security and education.
“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 further called on political parties and candidates to respect electoral laws and institutions while engaging in constructive criticism where necessary.
He cautioned political actors and their supporters against making premature declarations of victory or circulating information capable of weakening public confidence in the electoral process and democratic institutions.
Warning Over Misinformation
Amupitan also expressed concern over the growing influence of digital communication and social media on elections.
He warned political parties, candidates and voters against the spread of misinformation and disinformation, as well as foreign information manipulation and interference, which he said could negatively affect the credibility of the electoral process.
The professor of law urged political parties and candidates to fully commit themselves to the provisions of the National 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.
According to INEC’s timetable, the official campaign for the 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections begins on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, while the elections are scheduled to hold on January 16, 2027.
‘INEC Has No Candidate’
The INEC chairman also assured Nigerians that the electoral commission would remain neutral and impartial throughout the 2027 elections.
Amupitan stressed that the commission has no preferred candidate or political platform and would focus solely on ensuring a lawful, transparent, credible and inclusive electoral process.
“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 urged all registered political parties, presidential candidates and other candidates to internalise the commitments contained in the peace accord and ensure that their supporters also adhere to its provisions.
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 the then-presidential candidates, Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari, ahead of the election that resulted in Nigeria’s first democratic transfer of power from an incumbent ruling party to an opposition party since the return to democratic rule in 1999.
The initiative has since been extended to several off-cycle governorship elections across the country.
The peace accord commits political parties and their candidates to peaceful conduct and issue-based campaigns before, during and after elections, with the broader objective of protecting Nigeria’s democratic process and national stability.
