2027: Abdulsalami panel warns Tinubu, Atiku, Obi, others against inflammatory campaigns

The National Peace Committee, headed by former Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar and organized by Most Rev. Matthew Kukah, has issued a stern warning to President Bola Tinubu, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and other political figures against inflammatory and provocative campaigns as the 2027 general elections approach.

The committee also expressed deep concern over 60 election-related incidents that occurred within a single month, encompassing political violence, intimidation, threats, attacks on political activities, and misinformation. This warning was communicated through a statement jointly penned by Abubakar and Kukah on a recent Monday.

The committee's stance was made clear in a statement that stressed the importance of political parties, candidates, and supporters to cease the dissemination of false, inflammatory, or inciting information. It urged all to honor the commitments outlined in the Accord, verify information prior to publication, and actively prevent supporters from engaging in unlawful activities, intimidation, or disruptions.

The committee reiterated that every candidate must be able to campaign peacefully, every political party must be able to organize lawfully, and every citizen must be able to cast their vote without fear or coercion.

The committee further directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to bolster its monitoring of political campaigns to ensure adherence to the 2026 Electoral Act and relevant regulations. It also called for heightened investigation efforts by security agencies into electoral offenses and political violence. The committee underscored that the National Peace Accord is a solemn public commitment, not a mere ceremonial declaration.

The warning came six weeks after political parties and presidential and National Assembly candidates had signed the National Peace Accord, vowing to refrain from violence, hate speech, misinformation, personal attacks, and other tactics that could undermine the electoral process. The committee's Election Security Information Hub monitored political conduct and developments from August 19 to September 19, documenting 60 election-related incidents, with the majority of these incidents related to misinformation and disinformation, accounting for 40% of the total.

Additionally, false statements led to attacks and disruptions affecting political activities and assets, constituting 21.7% of the incidents, while political intimidation and threats, including those involving security personnel, made up 16.7% of the cases. Political violence and thuggery accounted for 10% of the incidents, while inflammatory statements were recorded in 6.7% of the cases.

Other incidents included restrictions on freedom of expression, intra-party conflicts, and voter inducement.

The committee's findings suggested significant deviations from the peaceful and issue-based campaigns envisioned by the Peace Accord, which could potentially restrict political participation, undermine public confidence in the electoral system, and increase tensions as political competition escalates. The hub, launched in Abuja on October 14, 2025, in collaboration with the European Union's Support to Democratic Governance Programme in Nigeria, is designed to track, analyze, and respond to election-related threats.

The committee's latest warning follows the August 18 signing of the National Peace Accord by major political parties and candidates ahead of the onset of public campaigns. Among those who signed the accord were President Bola Tinubu, Peter Obi, Adewole Adebayo, and Omoyele Sowore, with Atiku Abubakar and Seyi Makinde notably absent from the ceremony.