By Iroyin Yoruba Television
Governorship candidates contesting the 2027 Adamawa State election have signed a peace accord committing them to peaceful, responsible and issue-based political campaigns ahead of the February 2027 poll.
The agreement was signed in Yola at the Banquet Hall of the Adamawa State Government House during the Adamawa State 2027 Violence-Free Campaigns and Elections Peace Accord Summit.
The summit brought together governorship candidates, political party representatives and other stakeholders as political activities continue to intensify ahead of the next general election.
The peace accord was organised by the ABAK Peace Foundation in collaboration with the National Peace Committee and the Adamawa State Peace Commission.
The initiative was built around the theme, “Peace Before, During and After the Elections.”
CANDIDATES COMMIT TO PEACEFUL CAMPAIGNS
Under the agreement, the participating candidates committed themselves to conducting their campaigns peacefully and focusing on issues rather than personal attacks.
The candidates pledged to reject electoral violence, hate speech, ethnic and religious incitement, intimidation, threats, misinformation, disinformation and other actions capable of creating tension during the election period.
They also agreed to promote political tolerance and respect for democratic processes.
The commitment comes at a time when political parties across Nigeria are increasing their preparations for the 2027 elections.
Campaigns and political mobilisation can involve large gatherings and heightened competition between parties, making the management of political disagreements an important part of preparations for the election.
The Adamawa initiative seeks to establish an agreed framework for political competition before tensions surrounding the election become more difficult to manage.
FOCUS ON POLICIES AND PROGRAMMES
The candidates also committed themselves to issue-based campaigns centred on their policies, programmes and visions for the development of Adamawa State.
This places emphasis on presenting political programmes to voters rather than using inflammatory rhetoric or personal attacks against opponents.
For the electorate, issue-based campaigns can provide information about the different priorities and proposals being presented by candidates during the election period.
The peace accord does not determine the political outcome of the election. Instead, it establishes commitments concerning the conduct of political actors and their campaigns.
The candidates will ultimately present their programmes to voters, who will make their choices through the electoral process.
ROLE OF POLITICAL PARTIES AND SUPPORTERS
Stakeholders at the summit stressed that maintaining peace cannot depend only on candidates.
Political parties and campaign organisations also have supporters who participate in rallies, meetings, online discussions and other forms of political mobilisation.
The organisers therefore emphasised that supporters must also respect the commitments contained in the peace agreement.
Political parties have an important role in communicating campaign rules and expectations to their members and supporters.
Where political disagreements occur, the peace initiative encourages stakeholders to address them through lawful and democratic channels.
This approach is intended to reduce the possibility that political disputes could develop into confrontations between supporters of rival parties.
SECURITY AGENCIES AND THE ELECTORAL PROCESS
Security agencies were also identified as important stakeholders in maintaining a peaceful electoral environment.
The Adamawa State Police Command participated in the summit through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security.
Security agencies have responsibilities before, during and after elections, including protecting voters, electoral officials, candidates and other participants.
Their role also includes responding to threats and maintaining public order within the limits of the law.
The involvement of security institutions in discussions around electoral peace allows political stakeholders to understand the expectations surrounding lawful political activity.
At the same time, security agencies are expected to carry out their responsibilities professionally and in accordance with applicable laws.
TRADITIONAL AND RELIGIOUS LEADERS
Traditional and religious leaders were also identified as part of the wider group required to support peaceful elections.
Such leaders often have significant influence within local communities and can contribute to efforts aimed at reducing tension.
Their involvement can help communicate messages of tolerance and peaceful political participation to communities.
The organisers of the Adamawa summit also identified civil society organisations, the media, youth groups, women’s groups and the wider electorate as stakeholders in the peace process.
The broad participation reflects the fact that election-related peace is not solely a responsibility of political parties.
MEDIA RESPONSIBILITY
The media is another important component of the electoral environment.
Political campaigns generate large volumes of information, including statements from candidates, party announcements, campaign materials and public reactions.
The peace summit identified the media as one of the stakeholders expected to support peaceful political engagement.
Responsible reporting can help voters understand political issues while avoiding the unnecessary escalation of disputes.
Political actors, in turn, have a responsibility to provide accurate information and avoid deliberately spreading false or inflammatory claims.
The commitment to reject misinformation and disinformation contained in the Adamawa peace accord therefore has implications for both political communication and public information.
NATIONAL PEACE ACCORD
The Adamawa agreement follows a National Peace Accord signed in Abuja in August 2026 by political parties and presidential candidates ahead of the 2027 elections.
The state-level initiative is intended to translate that broader commitment into a framework for political competition within Adamawa.
While the national accord addresses the wider electoral environment, the Adamawa agreement focuses specifically on the state's governorship contest.
This provides an opportunity for political stakeholders in the state to establish their own commitments based on local circumstances.
The February 2027 election will determine the next political administration in Adamawa State.
IMPORTANCE OF EARLY COMMITMENTS
Signing a peace accord before an election allows candidates and stakeholders to make their expectations clear before the most intense stages of campaigning.
Political competition can become more active as election day approaches, with candidates seeking support across different communities.
An early agreement provides a reference point for political conduct throughout the campaign period.
It also gives political parties and other stakeholders an opportunity to address disagreements before they become more difficult to resolve.
However, the effectiveness of such an agreement depends on whether the commitments made at the signing ceremony are followed during actual campaign activities.
POLITICAL COMPETITION AND DEMOCRATIC PROCESS
The candidates remain free to compete for votes and present different political programmes to the electorate.
Peaceful competition does not require political parties to agree on policies or political priorities.
Instead, it requires disagreements to be handled through lawful democratic processes.
Candidates can criticise opposing policies and present alternative proposals while respecting the right of other parties to participate.
The peace accord therefore establishes behavioural commitments rather than a common political platform.
VOTERS REMAIN CENTRAL
The electorate remains central to the democratic process.
Voters in Adamawa will eventually assess the candidates and their programmes before casting their ballots during the 2027 election.
For voters to participate effectively, they need access to accurate information about candidates, political parties and campaign issues.
A peaceful environment also allows citizens to attend campaign events, ask questions and participate in political activities without intimidation.
The commitment to peaceful campaigns is therefore connected to the broader objective of allowing citizens to participate in the electoral process freely.
HANDLING DISAGREEMENTS
Political disagreements are expected during elections.
Candidates and parties may challenge policies, question campaign claims or disagree over electoral procedures.
The peace accord encourages stakeholders to channel such disagreements through lawful and democratic mechanisms.
Electoral institutions, courts and other legally recognised processes provide avenues for addressing disputes when they arise.
The approach reduces the need for political disagreements to become confrontational.
ROLE OF CIVIL SOCIETY
Civil society organisations can also contribute to monitoring political conduct and promoting peaceful participation.
Their involvement can include voter education, observation, public awareness and engagement with political parties and institutions.
The presence of civil society at the Adamawa summit provides another layer of participation beyond political parties and government institutions.
Youth and women's groups were also identified as important stakeholders because of their participation in political mobilisation and community activities.
WHAT THE ACCORD COVERS
The commitments signed by the candidates cover several areas of political conduct.
These include rejecting violence, hate speech, ethnic and religious incitement, intimidation, threats, misinformation, disinformation and personal attacks.
They also cover the adoption of issue-based campaigns and respect for democratic processes.
The agreement applies to the broader electoral period before, during and after the February 2027 election.
Its implementation will therefore extend beyond the ceremony where the document was signed.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
Political parties and candidates will continue their preparations for the 2027 election as the campaign period progresses.
The commitments made in Yola will provide a framework against which political conduct can be considered during the election season.
Security agencies, civil society organisations, traditional leaders, religious leaders and the media will also remain involved in the wider effort to maintain a peaceful environment.
The electorate will continue to receive campaign messages from competing political parties and candidates as the election approaches.
ADAMAWA'S ELECTORAL ENVIRONMENT
Adamawa has a diverse political landscape involving communities with different ethnic, religious and political backgrounds.
The emphasis on rejecting ethnic and religious incitement in the peace accord reflects the organisers' focus on preventing political competition from creating divisions along communal lines.
The agreement also recognises that maintaining peace requires cooperation beyond political candidates.
Supporters, community leaders and institutions all influence the atmosphere surrounding elections.
LOOKING TOWARD FEBRUARY 2027
The signing of the Adamawa peace accord marks an early step in preparations for the state's 2027 governorship election.
The candidates have formally committed to peaceful and issue-based campaigns, while other stakeholders have been called upon to support the same objective.
The coming months will show how the commitments are reflected in campaign activities, public statements and interactions between political parties.
For voters, the electoral period will provide an opportunity to evaluate competing candidates and their programmes.
For political parties and candidates, the peace accord establishes commitments on how that competition should be conducted.
The broader objective is to ensure that political differences remain within democratic and lawful channels before, during and after the 2027 Adamawa governorship election.