The African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has criticised President Bola Tinubu for failing to personally attend the signing of the National Peace Accord ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Sowore was among several presidential candidates, including Peter Obi and Donald Duke, who attended the peace accord signing ceremony held in Abuja on Tuesday, August 18.
Speaking during an interview with Channels Television on Wednesday, Sowore questioned the significance of the agreement, arguing that Tinubu’s absence undermined the seriousness of the exercise.
President Tinubu was represented at the ceremony by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume.
According to Sowore, Tinubu, as President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, should have attended the event in person and demonstrated his commitment to preventing violence before, during and after the 2027 elections.
He argued that the President’s position gives him significant responsibility for maintaining peace and security during the electoral process.
“I told them (opposition) that whatever they signed there was null and void because they are not parties to the election. In all the candidates in this election, the President of Nigeria is the number one controller of violence, officially, because he is Commander-in-Chief for good and for bad. So, if he is not there, it shows that this is not a serious affair,” Sowore said.
The AAC candidate maintained that Tinubu’s presence would have added greater moral authority to the peace agreement and reassured Nigerians that the government was genuinely committed to preventing electoral violence.
Sowore said the President should lead by example by personally endorsing the principles of the accord.
“He should have shown example as a leader to say, if this thing is going to be done 20 times, I will be there to approve my signature on paper if you believe in it. This shows he doesn’t even believe in what we are doing,” he said.
He added that a genuine commitment to peaceful elections should begin with the country’s highest political authority.
“If you are serious with non-violence, it should start with the Head of State, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. It will give moral support to whatever was being done yesterday,” Sowore added.
