2027: ‘Peace Accord meaningless without justice, accountability’ — Adebayo

Adewole Adebayo, the presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party, has expressed skepticism about the National Peace Accord ahead of Nigeria's 2027 general elections. Speaking at a press conference, Adebayo emphasized that such accords would be ineffective without justice, accountability, and respect for democratic principles.

At the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja, where political parties and candidates signed the peace accord, Adebayo pointed out that previous peace agreements had been breached without repercussions, casting doubt on their ability to prevent electoral violence. He questioned how justice could be achieved in the face of rule-breaking.

Adebayo argued that the government bore a significant responsibility for fostering an environment conducive to peaceful elections, asserting that well-functioning institutions would diminish the need for political actors to depend on peace accords. He stressed the importance of adhering to the Constitution, maintaining the independence of institutions like the Independent National Electoral Commission and security agencies.

Adebayo also queried whether the recent Osun State governorship election, marred by deaths, represented an improvement in Nigeria's electoral process, criticizing the deployment of numerous police commissioners to ensure security. He maintained that Nigeria required a political system where institutions function independently and effectively, rather than relying on candidates to sign agreements before each election.