2027: If the President is not there, it shows that this is not a serious affair – Sowore speaks on Tinubu’s absence at Peace Accord signing ceremony
African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has criticised President Bola Tinubu for not personally attending the National Peace Accord signing ceremony ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The ceremony was held in Abuja on Tuesday, August 18, with presidential candidates including Sowore, Peter Obi and Donald Duke in attendance. Tinubu was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume.
Speaking on Channels Television, Sowore said the President’s absence suggested that he did not consider the peace accord a serious matter.
He argued that Tinubu, as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, should have attended personally to demonstrate his commitment to preventing electoral violence.
According to Sowore, Tinubu’s presence would have given the accord greater “moral weight” and shown Nigerians that the government was genuinely committed to the principles of the agreement.
“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,” he said
“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.
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 said
