On Tuesday 18 August, 2026, Peter Obi, running for the Office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the platform of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), alongside other Presidential candidates, signed the first National Peace Accord ahead of the 2027 General Elections.
Via X, Obi said, if anyone wants to be addressed as ‘His Excellency’, then the person “must behave excellently”.
Obi announced: “Yesterday, I joined other presidential candidates to sign the first National Peace Accord for the 2027 Presidential Elections.”
Signing the Accord means a “reinforcement of my continued commitment to insisting that we, as candidates, must conduct ourselves in a way that reflects the office we aspire to”, the former Governor of Anambra State said.
He further said, those who lead must abstain from all kinds of “violent rhetoric and rein in their followers to do the same”.
The former Labour Party (LP) member said, the next elections must be focused on the challenges facing Nigerians, “unity, insecurity, pulling people out of poverty, reducing the number of out-of-school children, and restoring hope to the long-suffering people of our country”.
Obi said: “Our supporters must see that we have all committed to free, fair, and credible elections based on issues and devoid of rancour.”
He urged those that wish to be respected to “behave excellently”, saying, they must win Public Office “excellently”.
Obi said: “Those of us wishing to be addressed as “His Excellency” must behave excellently, and, more importantly, the process of attaining public office must be excellent.”
He called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure the exercise is “free, fair and credible”; and security agencies to be “unbiased” all through the process.
Obi said: “We take very seriously the commitment of INEC to free, fair, and credible elections, as well as the pledge by law enforcement agencies to remain unbiased throughout the electioneering process.”
He then called on his supporters to “remain firm, determined, and peaceful.”
The signing of the peace Accord is coming after Obi congratulated Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party (AP) following his victory in the Osun State Governorship Election which held on Saturday 15 August, 2026.
In his congratulations on X, Obi said, the people have “spoken” through their votes, adding, “power belongs to the people”.
He prayed for more “maturity” to Nigeria’s democracy.
Obi wrote: “I congratulate Governor Ademola Adeleke and the good people of Osun State on the outcome of the election and, more importantly, on safeguarding the democratic process. The people have spoken through the ballot, reaffirming the fundamental principle that power belongs to the people.
“My prayer is that our democracy will continue to mature to a point where elections no longer come at the cost of human lives, and where political differences can always be settled through issue-based campaigns and the rule of law.”
