ABUJA — The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Amupitan, has urged political parties and candidates to make the 2027 election campaign a “marketplace of ideas” rather than a “theatre of war,” as Nigeria prepares for the presidential and National Assembly elections.
Amupitan made the call on Tuesday in Abuja at the signing of the first National Peace Accord ahead of the 2027 general elections, an initiative facilitated by the National Peace Committee (NPC), led by former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar.
Addressing presidential candidates and political party leaders at the event, the INEC chairman described the peace accord as more than a ceremonial document, saying it represented a formal commitment by political actors to the Nigerian people.
“The document you are about to sign is not a mere piece of paper. It is a covenant and a social contract with the Nigerian people, and it is a contract with statutory and constitutional flavour,” Amupitan said.
Amupitan Urges Candidates to Campaign on Policies
The INEC chairman urged presidential candidates and other political leaders to recognise the influence their words and actions have on supporters, warning that inflammatory rhetoric could translate into violence.
“Presidential candidates, if you speak the language of peace, they will act with peace; if you incite them, they will ignite,” he said.
Amupitan called on candidates to focus their campaigns on policies, programmes and practical solutions rather than personal attacks.
He challenged politicians to clearly explain to voters how they intend to tackle Nigeria’s economic, security and education challenges.
“Focus on what and how. Tell the voters what you will do for the economy, security and education and how you intend to achieve it,” he said.
“Let the 2027 campaign be a marketplace of ideas, not a theatre of war.”
INEC Warns Against Misinformation, Premature Victory Claims
Amupitan also urged political parties and their supporters to respect Nigeria’s electoral laws and institutions while engaging in constructive criticism during the campaign.
He warned against premature declarations of victory and the circulation of information capable of undermining public confidence in the electoral process.
The INEC chairman expressed particular concern about the growing influence of digital platforms on elections, warning political actors and voters about the risks posed by misinformation, disinformation and foreign information manipulation and interference.
He urged all political parties and candidates to fully embrace the commitments contained in the National Peace Accord and conduct their campaigns with restraint.
“Let us compete decently, but let us remember that at the end of this exercise, there will be no winner if Nigeria is not the winner,” Amupitan said.
INEC: ‘We Have No Preferred Candidate’
Amupitan also sought to reassure Nigerians that INEC would remain neutral throughout the 2027 electoral process.
He said the commission had no preferred candidate or political party and was focused solely on conducting a credible election in accordance with the law.
“Let me state unequivocally that INEC has no interest in who wins or loses any election, nor does it favour any political platform. Our only interest is a lawful, transparent, credible and inclusive process,” he said.
He called on all registered political parties, presidential candidates and other candidates to internalise and uphold the commitments made under the peace agreement.
2027 Election Campaign Begins August 19
The official campaign for Nigeria’s 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections begins on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, according to INEC’s timetable.
The presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, setting the stage for a major political contest as parties and candidates seek the support of millions of Nigerian voters.
The National Peace Committee introduced the peace accord ahead of the 2015 general elections as part of efforts to promote peaceful elections, mediate political disputes and encourage political actors to accept electoral outcomes.
The 2015 accord was signed by then-presidential candidates Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari and preceded Nigeria’s first democratic transfer of power from an incumbent ruling party to an opposition party since the return to democratic rule in 1999.
The initiative has subsequently been used for several off-cycle governorship elections.
The accord commits political parties and their candidates to peaceful conduct and issue-based campaigns before, during and after elections.
With the 2027 campaign season beginning, Amupitan’s message places the emphasis on policy competition, institutional credibility and peaceful political engagement as Nigeria moves towards its next presidential election.