President Bola Tinubu has called on political parties and candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections to reject violence, hate speech and divisive politics, insisting that the polls must not be treated as a “do-or-die affair.”

The President made the call on Tuesday in Abuja at the signing of the National Peace Accord for the 2027 elections. He was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume.

Tinubu commended the National Peace Committee for its role in promoting peaceful and issue-based campaigns, and noted that while elections in Nigeria have historically triggered anxiety because of intense competition for power, innovations introduced by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, have improved transparency.

“Since 1999, when our country returned to democratic governance under the stewardship of General Abdulsalami Abubakar and his team, every election period has brought its share of anxiety because of the nature of our politics and the intense competition for power by political actors,” he said.

The President urged candidates to focus on policies instead of ethnicity or religion. “It is natural during campaigns to disagree as opponents and advocate competing governing missions for our country. We may exchange occasional political jabs, but as members of the same household, the same national family, we must never resort to divisive and primordial sentiments of ethnicity or religion as tools for seeking power,” Tinubu stated.

Speaking on behalf of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Tinubu pledged the party’s commitment to the Peace Accord. “Our party rejects violence, hate speech, the spread of misinformation, including through artificial intelligence, and all forms of incitement, especially via social media,” he said. He concluded with a call for unity among political actors.

“Let us remember that elections are not a do-or-die affair. We are partners in the project of nation-building. Win or lose, our country, Nigeria, must be the ultimate winner.”

The Peace Accord signing is part of ongoing efforts by stakeholders to ensure a credible and non-violent electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections.