Get Guardian on GoogleThe African Democratic Congress (ADC) has explained why its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, was absent from the signing of the 2027 General Election Peace Accord.
The party said Atiku’s decision not to attend was deliberate, describing it as its way of rejecting what it considers an ineffective approach to addressing electoral violence and inflammatory political statements.
ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the party questioned the value of signing a peace accord when, according to it, previous controversial statements and incidents capable of escalating political tensions had not received adequate attention from the National Peace Committee.
“For us, it is our way of saying no,” Abdullahi said during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily.
His comments came after Atiku stayed away from the peace accord ceremony, which was attended by several other presidential candidates, including Peter Obi and Omoyele Sowore.
The accord, organised by the National Peace Committee in partnership with the Kukah Centre, is aimed at promoting peaceful campaigns, issue-based politics and respect for the electoral process ahead of the 2027 elections.
However, the ADC maintains that signing the document without stronger action against conduct that could fuel electoral violence would make the exercise largely symbolic.
The party’s position now puts greater focus on the issues it believes must be addressed ahead of the 2027 elections, rather than simply signing an agreement to promote peaceful elections.
