Peace accord: Nobody should die for election, Peter Obi tells politicians

Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has called on political actors to ensure that no Nigerian loses their life because of an election, urging candidates to conduct issue-based campaigns ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Obi spoke on Tuesday on arrival at the signing of the National Peace Accord organised by the National Peace Committee in partnership with The Kukah Centre at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre.

He said political candidates seeking public office must ensure that their conduct and behaviour reflect the responsibilities attached to the offices they seek.

“I expect that we have a peaceful, issue-based campaign. We must, for the sake of this country, ensure that our conduct reflects the office we are seeking, our behaviour, and that we do the right things and campaign on issues that Nigerians are going through today,” Obi said.

Reacting to the recently concluded Osun State governorship election, the former Anambra State governor expressed sadness over the loss of lives associated with the electoral process.

He urged political leaders and Nigerians not to forget those who died during the election, calling for support and condolences for their families.

“Let us not forget those who died in ensuring that the election in Osun was achieved the way it went. We should visit them, we should condole their families, and we should remain prayerful and conduct ourselves in a way that in our democracy, nobody needs to die for an election,” he said.

Obi described the deaths as painful and expressed hope that such incidents would not recur in future elections. “It is painful. And I wish it never happened again,” he said.

Asked whether he still believed in the electoral process despite the challenges, Obi said his commitment to changing the system was one of the reasons he remained involved in electoral politics. “Because I want to change the process, I have to go through it,” he said.

He also questioned the need for political candidates to be compelled to sign a peace accord, arguing that anyone seeking public office should naturally demonstrate exemplary conduct.

“We don’t even need to sign this. We’re seeking an office where we should be exemplary,” Obi said.

According to him, excellence in public office begins with the character and conduct of the individual seeking the position.

“You can’t answer with excellence without being an excellent person. So that process that will make you answer with excellence should be excellent. And the only way to do it is to conduct yourself properly,” he added.

Obi said whether the agreement is described as a peace accord or justice accord, what matters most is that candidates behave in a manner consistent with the offices they aspire to occupy.

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“Personal conduct of the candidate must reflect the office he’s seeking. Behaviour, his person, any day, any time, must reflect that office,” he said.

The NDC candidate further appealed for an electoral system in which votes would genuinely count, saying this was essential for the future of Nigerian children.

“I don’t have any fear except to say that, please, for the sake of the children of Nigeria, can we have an election where people’s vote will count?” Obi asked.

On the appropriate consequence for political parties or candidates who violate the commitments contained in the peace accord, Obi said voters should use their ballots to punish such politicians.

“Whatever it is, whether we call it a justice accord or we call it a peace accord, personal conduct of the candidate must reflect the office he’s seeking,” he said.

Asked what punishment should be imposed on those who breach the accord, Obi replied: “The punishment is that Nigeria should not vote for them. Amen.”