2027 Peace Accord: Will Tinubu, Atiku & Obi Keep Their Word?

Photo: Vanguard

The Paper Has Been Signed — But Can We Trust It?

Last week, something happened that Nigerians have seen before — presidential candidates gathered, smiled for cameras, and signed a Peace Accord ahead of the 2027 general elections. Bola Tinubu, Atiku Abubakar, and Peter Obi all put pen to paper, promising to run clean, respectful campaigns free of divisive rhetoric, hate speech, and the kind of personal attacks that nearly tore this country apart in previous election cycles. Fine. Beautiful. We clap for them.

But as my mama used to say, "Na mouth dem dey use swear." Words are cheap in Nigerian politics, and the question every ordinary Nigerian from Kano to Calabar, from Owerri to Sokoto is asking is simple: will these men actually keep their promises?

So What Exactly Is This Peace Accord About?

For those who don't follow the fine print of political agreements — and honestly, who has time with NEPA bills and fuel prices — the Peace Accord is essentially a gentleman's agreement facilitated by stakeholders and civil society groups. The three leading presidential contenders agreed to:

• Refrain from using hate speech or language that inflames ethnic, religious, or regional sentiments
• Call out and discipline supporters and surrogates who engage in divisive rhetoric on their behalf
• Avoid spreading disinformation and fake news designed to smear opponents
• Commit to issue-based campaigns focused on policy, not personality destruction
• Respect the rights of all Nigerians regardless of tribe, faith, or political affiliation

On paper? Chef's kiss. In practice? That's where e go hot.

Why Ordinary Nigerians Should Actually Care

Here's the thing — when politicians trade insults and fan ethnic flames during campaigns, it's not them that suffer the consequences. It's you. It's the Igbo trader in Kano who suddenly feels unsafe. It's the Hausa student in Lagos who starts getting side-eyes from neighbours. It's the Yoruba family in Port Harcourt who begins packing their things "just in case."

The 2023 elections left deep wounds. The rhetoric around Peter Obi's candidacy sparked dangerous "Obidient versus Jagaban" tribalism online that spilled into real life. Atiku's campaign was not innocent either — the attacks flew from all sides like pepper soup in a Lagos buka. And some of Tinubu's supporters? God help us. The internet became a warzone.

When political tension rises, businesses suffer, markets shut down, and investment runs away faster than a Lagos danfo driver beating traffic. So yes, whether or not these men keep their Peace Accord promise has direct consequences for your pocket and your safety.

Tinubu: Can the Incumbent Lead by Example?

President Bola Tinubu enters 2027 with the heaviest burden — he must defend his record while managing a party, the APC, that is already experiencing internal turbulence. Governors, senators, and party bigwigs are already positioning themselves, and that internal pressure often leads to surrogates throwing mud on behalf of the principal.

The real test for Tinubu is not what he says at a Peace Accord signing ceremony — it's whether he will publicly rebuke APC operatives and social media foot soldiers when they cross the line. We've seen too many Nigerian leaders condemn violence with one hand while their loyalists fan the flames with the other. If Tinubu is serious, he needs to walk the talk.

Atiku: The Perennial Candidate Must Change His Campaign DNA

Atiku Abubakar is running for president again — and at this point, the man deserves a special medal just for persistence alone. But persistence without evolution is stubbornness. Atiku's previous campaigns have leaned heavily on regional sentiments, particularly appeals to the North, which while politically understandable, can quickly slide into divisive territory when mishandled by overzealous supporters.

If Atiku is genuinely committed to this Peace Accord, his campaign needs to look different in 2027. Less "the North must reclaim power" energy, and more "here is my concrete plan for Nigeria's economy" substance. Nigerians are hungry — literally and figuratively — for someone who speaks to their stomach, not just their ethnic identity.

Peter Obi: The "Movement" Must Mature

Peter Obi's Labour Party movement was electric in 2023. Young Nigerians, particularly in the South-East and among urban youth nationwide, were genuinely inspired. But some elements of the Obidient movement became dangerously tribal online, and the anti-Yoruba, anti-Hausa sentiments that crept into certain corners of that campaign were ugly and inexcusable.

Obi himself is generally measured in his public speech — but he has not always been forceful enough in shutting down his more extreme supporters. In 2027, if he's serious about the Peace Accord, he needs to be unambiguous: ethnic hatred will not be tolerated in his name, full stop.

The Accord Means Nothing Without Accountability

Here's the honest truth that nobody at that signing ceremony wants to say out loud: Peace Accords in Nigerian politics have the shelf life of suya in a room full of hungry people. They get signed, they get praised, and then they get forgotten the moment campaign season heats up and polling numbers start shifting.

What would actually make this one different? Independent monitoring. Civil society groups, media organizations like ours, and international observers need to publicly score these candidates throughout the campaign season. Every hate speech incident, every ethnic dog whistle, every disinformation campaign should be documented and reported — loudly.

Nigerians also have a role to play. Stop sharing unverified content. Stop amplifying toxic rhetoric from political bots just because it aligns with your candidate. Your vote is precious — don't let politicians use your passion to set your neighbour's house on fire.

The Bottom Line: Watch Their Actions, Not Their Smiles

As 2027 approaches, the anxiety is real. Nigeria is a complex, multi-ethnic, deeply religious country where political rhetoric can ignite real violence within hours. The Peace Accord is a start — but it is only as strong as the men who signed it.

Tinubu, Atiku, and Obi are all politicians. Brilliant, experienced, and thoroughly Nigerian in their complexity. They will all be tempted to cross lines when the pressure builds. The question is who blinks first — and how much ordinary Nigerians will pay for that blink.

We dey watch. And this time, we will be counting.