Published by Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The signing of the 2027 National Peace Accord in Abuja on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, was meant to be a symbolic display of unity and commitment to peaceful elections. But for Omoyele Sowore, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), the ceremony was overshadowed by a glaring omission: the physical absence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume.
In a blistering interview on Channels Television's Sunrise Daily on Wednesday, August 19, Sowore dismissed the entire exercise as lacking moral weight, arguing that the President's failure to personally attend the ceremony showed that the peace pact was not a "serious affair" and that Nigeria's political leaders were not genuinely committed to preventing electoral violence.
"I told them (opposition) that whatever they signed there was null and void because they are not parties to the election," Sowore declared. "In all the candidates in this election, the President of Nigeria is the number one controller of violence, officially, because he is Commander-in-Chief for good and for bad. So, if he is not there, it shows that this is not a serious affair."
The AAC candidate argued that Tinubu's physical presence would have given the accord greater moral weight and demonstrated that the government was committed to the principles contained in the agreement. "He should have shown example as a leader to say, if this thing is going to be done 20 times, I will be there to approve my signature on paper if you believe in it. This shows he doesn't even believe in what we are doing," Sowore said.
Sowore, who attended the ceremony and signed the accord, said his decision to participate was intended to demonstrate his personal belief in a free and fair election. "I showed up there just so that I can give my own reinforcement of belief that, symbolically, I believe in free and fair election," he said. However, he maintained that the significance of the accord should go beyond symbolism, stressing the need for accountability and enforcement. He called on the organisers to initiate a "Justice Accord" rather than another peace agreement, arguing that peace cannot be sustained where justice is absent and impunity flourishes.
The 2027 Peace Accord was signed by several presidential candidates and political leaders, including Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Donald Duke of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), and other candidates from 19 political parties. The agreement, organised by the National Peace Committee, seeks to promote peaceful political engagement and issue-based campaigns before, during and after the elections. It also commits signatories to refrain from religious, ethnic or tribal incitements and to avoid statements that could incite violence.
President Tinubu, however, was conspicuously absent. No official reason was given for his absence, though BusinessDay sources at the Presidential Villa indicated that the President had some official engagements at the Villa. The President was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, who reaffirmed the APC-led Federal Government's commitment to the accord and rejected electoral violence, hate speech, misinformation and social-media incitement.
The absence did not go unnoticed by other candidates. Adewole Adebayo, the presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), also criticised Tinubu's decision to stay away, describing it as an "insult to the process" and a sign that the President was not committed to peace. "President Tinubu not showing up today, he is showing that he is not committed to peace. He is sending a wrong signal to law enforcement, for the people who work for the government, that the President looks like he is not committed enough," Adebayo said. He urged the President to explain his absence and publicly reaffirm his commitment to the peace process.
Adebayo also recalled that former President Muhammadu Buhari attended the signing of the peace accord four years ago, despite not being a candidate in the election at the time. "Four years ago he [Tinubu] was around, and President Buhari, who was not even contesting, was around. It is good for you as a leader that you believe in a peace process," Adebayo said.
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Amupitan, also pledged the commission's neutrality and commitment to conducting credible elections. He urged political parties to make the 2027 campaign a "marketplace of ideas" focused on practical solutions rather than insults and conflict. Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, a member of the National Peace Committee, also called on politicians to ensure that elections translate into measurable improvements in the lives of Nigerians.
Sowore, however, was unimpressed. He argued that the peace pact should be accompanied by concrete measures to address electoral violence and ensure that those who violate the agreement face consequences. His call for a "Justice Accord" reflects a growing frustration among opposition figures who believe that peace agreements, without enforceable sanctions, are little more than political theatre.
As the 2027 election campaigns officially begin, the debate over the President's absence from the peace accord signing is likely to linger. For Sowore, the message is clear: a peace pact without the President's physical presence is a pact without conviction. "If you are serious with non-violence, it should start with the Head of State, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. It will give moral support to whatever was being done yesterday," he said. Whether the President's absence will undermine the accord's effectiveness remains to be seen. But for now, the peace pact has been signed, and the battle for Nigeria's political future has officially begun.
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