The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, has urged political parties and candidates contesting the 2027 General Election to uphold the commitments in the National Peace Accord.
He warned that the credibility of the elections depends not only on the electoral umpire but also on the conduct of political actors.
Amupitan made the call on Tuesday during the signing of the First National Peace Accord by political parties and candidates ahead of the 2027 polls.
The INEC Chairman disclosed that August 19, 2026, marks the commencement of public campaigns and rallies for the 2027 General Election.
According to him, Presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, while Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will hold on February 6, 2027.
He described the signing of the accord as a critical milestone, noting that the country is exactly five months away from the 2027 General Election.
“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 said the accord represents a commitment to issue-based campaigns and urged political actors to move away from character assassination, identity manipulation, and inflammatory rhetoric.
“By signing this Accord, you are committing to an issue-based campaign,” he said, stressing that Nigeria’s challenges and opportunities were too important to be overshadowed by bitterness and divisive politics.
Amupitan warned that the signing of the accord would have little meaning if political leaders failed to ensure its provisions were respected by their supporters and campaign structures.
“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 further urged presidential candidates and party leaders to cascade the obligations of the accord to their state executives, local government officials, ward canvassers, and grassroots supporters.
He also warned against incitement, the deployment of private armed squads, and digital disinformation, saying such practices could compromise the electoral process long before Election Day.
