The African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has criticised President Bola Tinubu for failing to personally attend the signing of the National Peace Accord ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Wednesday, Sowore said the President’s absence from the ceremony in Abuja showed that he did not consider the peace pact a serious matter.
Tinubu was represented at the event by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, George Akume, while other presidential candidates, including Peter Obi, Donald Duke and Sowore, signed the agreement organised by the National Peace Committee.
According to Sowore, the President, as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, should have attended the ceremony himself to demonstrate his commitment to peaceful elections.
“I told them that whatever they signed there was null and void because they are not parties to the election. In all the candidates in this election, the President of Nigeria is the number one controller of violence, officially, because he is Commander-in-Chief for good and for bad. So, if he is not there, it shows that this is not a serious affair,” Sowore said.
He added that Tinubu’s presence would have given the accord greater credibility and moral backing.
“He should have shown an example as a leader to say, if this thing is going to be done 20 times, I will be there to approve my signature on paper if you believe in it. This shows he doesn’t even believe in what we are doing.“If you are serious about non-violence, it should start with the Head of State, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. It will give moral support to whatever was being done yesterday,” he added.
Despite his criticism, Sowore said he attended and signed the accord to reaffirm his belief in free and fair elections.
“I showed up there just so that I can give my own reinforcement of belief that, symbolically, I believe in free and fair elections,” he said.
He, however, stressed that the peace accord should go beyond symbolism and be backed by concrete measures to tackle electoral violence and hold violators accountable.
DAILY POST reported that the National Peace Accord was signed on Tuesday by presidential candidates and political leaders ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The agreement aims to promote peaceful campaigns, issue-based politics and non-violent conduct before, during and after the polls.
Tinubu’s absence shows Peace Accord not taken seriously – Sowore