Peter Obi urges voters to ‘punish’ politicians who violate peace accord

Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, has urged Nigerians not to vote for politicians who violate electoral peace agreements in the forthcoming 2027 general elections.

Obi made the call on Tuesday in Abuja during the National Peace Accord signing ceremony organised by the National Peace Committee in partnership with The Kukah Centre.

He said politicians who break their promises to maintain peace should face consequences at the polls.

“The punishment is that Nigerians should not vote for them,” Obi said.

The former Anambra State governor also urged political parties and candidates to run peaceful, issue-based campaigns focused on matters affecting Nigerians.

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

Obi said no Nigerian should lose their life because of an election and urged politicians to behave responsibly without waiting to be forced to sign peace agreements.

He also called for the families of people who died during the recent Osun State governorship election to be visited and supported.

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

On the electoral process, Obi said he still believed in it because he wanted to change it.

“Because I want to change the process, I have to go through it, so I have to believe in it,” he said.

He said his main concern ahead of 2027 was for Nigerians to freely choose their leaders and have their votes counted.

“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?” he asked.

Obi also urged politicians to focus their campaigns on issues such as the economy, insecurity, unemployment and the rising cost of living.