The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, on Tuesday said he had no fear about the 2027 general elections, urging Nigerians to ensure that their votes count.

Obi spoke with journalists at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, Abuja, during the signing of the National Peace Accord to commit political parties and candidates to peaceful and issue-based campaigns ahead of the 2027 elections.

The event was organised by the National Peace Committee in partnership with The Kukah Centre.

“I have no fear. I still have to say that, please, for the sake of the children of Nigeria, can we have an election where people’s votes will count?” Obi said.

He said he expected political parties and candidates to conduct peaceful and issue-based campaigns, stressing that their conduct must reflect 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,” he said.

Obi expressed concern over the deaths recorded during the recent Osun State governorship election, saying no Nigerian should lose his or her life because of an election.

Referring to his earlier remarks on those who died during the poll, he said their families should be visited and supported.

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

“It shouldn’t be. It is painful. And I wish it never happened again.”

Asked whether he still believed in the electoral process despite its shortcomings, Obi said he had to participate in the process 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.

The former Anambra State governor said the signing of the peace accord should not be reduced to a ceremonial exercise, insisting that political actors must abide by its principles.

“That’s what I’m saying. We don’t even need to sign this. We’re seeking an office where we should be exemplary. You can’t answer its excellence without being an excellent person.

“So that process that will make you to answer its excellence should be excellent. And the only way to do this is to conduct yourself properly,” he said.

Obi said the name given to the agreement was less important than the conduct of the candidates who signed it.

“Whatever it is, whether we call it justice accord or we call it peace accord, personal conduct of the candidates must reflect the office seeking. Behaviour is personal. Any day, any time, it must reflect that office,” he said.

On the punishment for any political party or candidate who violates the peace accord, Obi said voters should deliver the sanction at the polls.

“Well, the punishment is that Nigerians should not vote for them,” he said.