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Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has urged political leaders and their supporters to shun violent rhetoric and ensure the 2027 general election is driven by issues affecting Nigerians.
Obi made the call in a post on X on Wednesday, a day after he joined other presidential candidates to sign the first National Peace Accord for the 2027 presidential election.
The former Anambra State governor said signing the accord reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that candidates conduct themselves in a manner that reflects the offices they seek.
“My signing of the accord is a reinforcement of my continued commitment to insisting that we, as candidates, must conduct ourselves in a way that reflects the office we aspire to,” Obi said.
He said political leaders must reject violent rhetoric and ensure their supporters do the same.
“Leaders must eschew all forms of violent rhetoric and rein in their followers to do the same,” he said.
Obi said the 2027 election should focus on issues including national unity, insecurity, poverty and education.
“The next elections must be strictly based on the issues that matter to Nigerians: unity, insecurity, pulling people out of poverty, reducing the number of out-of-school children, and restoring hope to the long-suffering people of our country,” he said.
He urged supporters of political parties to recognise the candidates’ commitment to peaceful and credible elections.
“Our supporters must see that we have all committed to free, fair, and credible elections based on issues and devoid of rancour,” he said.
Obi also played on the honorific commonly used to address holders and former holders of public office, saying those seeking such recognition must demonstrate the qualities associated with it.
“Those of us wishing to be addressed as ‘His Excellency’ must behave excellently, and, more importantly, the process of attaining public office must be excellent,” he said.
The NDC presidential candidate also expressed confidence in the commitments made by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and law enforcement agencies ahead of the election.
“We take very seriously the commitment of INEC to free, fair, and credible elections, as well as the pledge by law enforcement agencies to remain unbiased throughout the electioneering process,” he said.
Obi ended his message by calling on his supporters to remain peaceful throughout the electioneering period.
“I call on my supporters to remain firm, determined, and peaceful,” he said.
Those Seeking to be Addressed as “His Excellency” Must Behave Excellently
Yesterday, I joined other presidential candidates to sign the first National Peace Accord for the 2027 Presidential Elections.
My signing of the accord is a reinforcement of my continued commitment to… pic.twitter.com/g89cuZW5Yo
— Peter Obi (@PeterObi) August 19, 2026
