• Diri canvasses issue-based, civil campaigns, congratulates Adeleke
• Adebayo faults Tinubu’s absence at Peace Accord signing

As presidential campaigns officially get underway, the Peter Obi Media Office has urged Nigerians to look beyond rallies, slogans and political propaganda and closely examine the records and policy proposals of those seeking to govern the country in 2027.

From Bayelsa State, Governor Douye Diri advised politicians to respect their opponents and ensure that campaigns for the 2027 general election were issue-based.

However, Social Democratic Party (SDP) presidential candidate, Adewole Adebayo, has faulted President Bola Tinubu for failing to personally attend the signing of an electoral peace accord, warning that his absence sends a troubling signal about the government’s commitment to peaceful and credible elections.

In a statement yesterday by its spokesman, Idris Zekeri Jnr, Obi’s campaign office presented the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, as a candidate whose campaign would be anchored on competence, accountability and prudent management of public resources.

It described Obi as the “Candidate of Conscience”, saying his political proposition was built around the belief that government should prioritise the welfare of citizens rather than political privilege.

According to the statement, the commencement of the campaign marks the beginning of a critical period in which Nigerians will have the opportunity to interrogate the competing visions being presented by presidential contenders ahead of the 2027 election.

“Over the next 150 days, Nigerians will hear many promises. They will witness political rallies, campaign slogans and passionate debates. Yet the most important question remains unchanged,” the statement added.

It charged voters to demand answers on how each candidate intends to tackle economic hardship, insecurity, unemployment and institutional weaknesses rather than allowing political sentiments to dominate the debate.

GOVERNOR Diri’s call for issue-based campaigns was made yesterday during the 195th State Executive Council meeting in Government House and the flag-off of President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid at the Oxbow Lake in Yenagoa by the PBAT Door to Door Movement.

He urged members of the group to emulate Tinubu, whom he described as a democrat, by being persuasive rather than combative with those who hold contrary opinions, insisting that democracy encourages people to hold divergent views.

The Bayelsa governor expressed optimism that the South-South geo-political zone and Nigerians would re-elect President Tinubu.

He also congratulated his Osun counterpart, Governor Ademola Adeleke, on his victory in last Saturday’s election.

In his remarks, the South-South Coordinator of the PBAT Door to Door Movement, Reuben Wilson, expressed appreciation to zonal and state coordinators as well as those who contributed to the success of the event.

ADEBAYO argued that the President, as the nation’s highest political authority and a direct beneficiary of Nigeria’s electoral process, had a duty to personally lead political actors in demonstrating a commitment to peace, particularly as the country approaches the 2027 general elections.

After signing the peace accord, the SDP candidate said Tinubu’s presence would have sent a powerful message to political parties, candidates, security agencies and the electorate that the Federal Government was serious about preventing electoral violence and protecting the integrity of the vote.

“President Tinubu not showing up today is showing that he’s not committed to peace,” Adebayo declared.

He warned that the President’s absence could have implications beyond the ceremony itself, particularly in how government officials and security personnel perceive the administration’s attitude towards electoral peace.

“He’s sending a wrong signal to law enforcement, people who work for the government, that the President looks like he’s not committed enough,” he said.

Adebayo called on Tinubu to personally address the concerns arising from his absence by explaining why he stayed away and publicly reaffirming his commitment to a peaceful electoral process.