Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has opted out of the National Peace Accord signing ceremony, marking his absence as a deliberate protest against what he describes as a weak peace process ahead of the 2027 general elections. The ADC's National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, stated that the decision to boycott the event was not an oversight but a calculated move to highlight the inadequacies of the peace initiative.

Abdullahi expressed concerns over the ongoing political violence in Nigeria, particularly referencing the recent turmoil during the Osun State governorship election. He criticized the National Peace Committee for failing to hold political figures accountable for their inflammatory remarks, including comments made by President Bola Tinubu that the ADC believes contributed to the violence.

"We've been signing this thing year in, year out; every election cycle, we sign in support of this commitment. Things still happen; people still get killed, harassed, like in the case of Osun, but we don't hear the Peace Committee say anything," Abdullahi remarked during an interview on Channels Television's Sunrise Daily.

The ADC spokesperson specifically pointed to the silence of the Peace Committee regarding remarks made by Senator Francis Fadahunsi, who allegedly incited violence by suggesting that people should go out and kill. Abdullahi questioned the effectiveness of the committee, stating, "When the President said all is fair in politics, he set the narrative for the violence that followed in the Osun election. We didn't hear the Peace Committee say, 'No, Mr President, that is not a good thing to say.'"

The ADC's stance is not a rejection of peaceful elections; rather, it is a call for the National Peace Committee to enforce the commitments made by political candidates. Abdullahi emphasized the need for the committee to move beyond ceremonial functions and take actionable steps to ensure accountability among political actors, regardless of their status or party affiliation.

"If we want to be part of this, if you want to be taking us seriously, then you need to up your game," he stated, urging the committee to hold all political actors accountable for their statements and actions.

Atiku Abubakar remains the ADC's flagbearer for the upcoming elections, following the recent resignation of Peter Obi from the party. The ADC's boycott comes in the wake of the First National Peace Accord signing that took place on August 18, 2026, where various political parties and candidates pledged to reject violence and hate speech as the country approaches what is anticipated to be its most competitive election since 1999.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has also raised alarms over a resurgence of hate speech and toxic polarization as Nigeria gears up for the 2027 elections, underscoring the urgent need for effective measures to promote peace and accountability in the political landscape.