Omoyele Sowore has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s absence from the National Peace Accord signing, arguing that it suggested the agreement was not being treated as a serious commitment. The accord was signed on Tuesday by several presidential candidates and political leaders ahead of the 2027 general elections.

A file photo combo of Sowore and President Tinubu (right)

African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s absence from the signing of the National Peace Accord ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Sowore said Tinubu’s decision not to attend the ceremony showed that the president did not consider the peace pact a serious affair.

He made the remarks on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Wednesday, hours after political leaders signed the accord in Abuja on Tuesday.

President Tinubu was represented at the ceremony by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, while other political figures, including Peter Obi, Sowore and Donald Duke, signed the agreement organised by the National Peace Committee.

Sowore said the president, as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, should have personally attended the ceremony to demonstrate his commitment 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. 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,” he said.

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.

“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,” 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.

He, however, maintained that the significance of the accord should go beyond symbolism, stressing the need for accountability and enforcement.

Sowore said the peace pact should be accompanied by concrete measures to address electoral violence and ensure that those who violate the agreement face consequences.

2027 Peace Accord 

The National Peace Accord was signed on Tuesday by several presidential candidates and political leaders ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The agreement seeks to promote peaceful political engagement and issue-based campaigns before, during and after the elections.

Peter Obi, who also signed the accord, called for credible and violence-free elections and urged Nigerians not to support candidates who violate the agreement.

Representing President Tinubu, Akume reaffirmed the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government’s commitment to the accord and rejected electoral violence, hate speech, misinformation and social-media incitement.

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, 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.

The National Peace Committee member and Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah, also called on politicians to ensure that elections translate into measurable improvements in the lives of Nigerians.

The first phase of the peace accord was signed a day before the commencement of campaigns for the 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections.