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The Kukah Centre, on Tuesday, urged political parties and their candidates in the June 20 governorship election to work toward a peaceful, violence‑free poll.
Project Manager Asabe Ndahi said parties have a responsibility to sensitize their members about issue‑based, non‑violent campaigning and activities to ensure a smooth exercise.
She made the remarks in Ado Ekiti during a pre‑election engagement titled “Socialisation of the Peace Accord Ahead of the 2026 Ekiti State Governorship Election,” which was attended by several parties and their candidates ahead of the Peace Accord signing.
The signing of the NPC Peace Accord by parties and candidates for the Ekiti governorship election, intended to guarantee peace before, during and after the vote, is scheduled for May 21 in Ado Ekiti, the state capital.
Represented at the programme were the People’s Democratic Party, Young Progressives Party, Accord, Allied People’s Movement, Action People’s Party, African Action Congress, Action Democratic Party, African Peoples Alliance, Peoples Redemption Party, New Nigeria People’s Party, Zenith Labour Party and the leadership of the Inter‑Party Advisory Council.
Since its inception, the NPC has facilitated 28 peace accords at national and sub‑national levels.
Eleven of the 16 parties and candidates that contested the 2022 Ekiti State governorship election signed a Peace Accord in Ado Ekiti on June 15, 2022.
Ndahi said the commitments expected from parties and candidates signing the Peace Accord include non‑violence, respect for democratic processes, responsible political communication, peaceful campaigns and elections, and compliance with electoral laws, among other obligations.
She described the pre‑election programme as “one of the engagements designed to deepen understanding of the Peace Accord, strengthen stakeholder ownership, encourage accountability, and promote collective responsibility for peaceful electoral conduct before, during and after the election.”
“The initiative brings together political actors, security agencies, electoral institutions, traditional and religious leaders, media organisations, civil society groups and field observers to discuss emerging electoral risks, institutional responsibilities and practical commitments for violence prevention,” she added.
The project manager noted that the stakeholder engagements aim to reinforce understanding of the Peace Accord’s legal foundations and promote peaceful electoral conduct and accountability among participants.
According to her, the objectives include identifying “state‑specific electoral risks and mitigation strategies, enhancing coordination between electoral, security, media and civic actors, building consensus ahead of the Peace Accord signing ceremony, and strengthening early warning and response mechanisms for election security.”
The Kukah Centre also voiced concern over electoral security challenges such as vote‑buying, voter inducement, political intimidation, misinformation, community tensions, youth involvement in violence, and public trust in the electoral process.
Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Officer Deborah Obafemi urged parties in the state to “institutionalise transparent and democratic internal processes for candidate selection, particularly in consensus‑building and screening procedures.”
Obafemi also advised parties to “promote meaningful inclusion of women, youths and persons with disabilities in leadership positions and candidacy through deliberate affirmative measures and shift political competition from personality‑driven and elite‑driven narratives to policy‑based and issue‑centred campaigns.”
She further called on parties to “refrain from inflammatory rhetoric, intimidation, and the recruitment of thugs or non‑state actors for political advantage, ensure strict compliance with campaign finance regulations, and avoid misuse of public office or administrative structures for partisan purposes.”
The officer also recommended that parties engage proactively and constructively with media platforms to communicate party manifestos, policy priorities and governance plans, and to “adhere strictly to established rules governing consensus arrangements and internal dispute resolution mechanisms.”
In his remarks, Inter‑Party Advisory Council Ekiti State Chairman Philip Adeniji reaffirmed parties’ commitment to peace before, during and after the June 20 election.
Adeniji said, “At the level of IPAC, we are taking it upon ourselves to sensitise people on participating in the election and ensuring they vote freely according to their conscience.”
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