The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Adewole Adebayo, has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of “insulting” the electoral peace process by failing to personally attend the signing of the National Peace Accord ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Adebayo said Tinubu’s absence from Tuesday’s ceremony in Abuja sent the wrong signal to political actors, security agencies and government officials regarding the President’s commitment to ensuring peaceful, free and credible elections.
The SDP presidential candidate made the remarks during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he called on Tinubu to publicly explain his absence and make a clear commitment to the peace process.
“President Tinubu not showing up today, he is showing that he is not committed to peace. He is sending a wrong signal to law enforcement, for the people who work for the government, that the President looks like he is not committed enough,” Adebayo said.
He argued that the President’s participation in the peace process should take precedence over considerations of state grandeur, stressing that the continuity of the Nigerian state and the conduct of credible elections were matters of national security.
“There is no issue of state grandeur than the President showing that democracy is important. There is no more national security than the continuity of the state. The state has to exist and a free, fair and credible election is important for establishing civil government,” he added.
Adebayo also recalled that former President Muhammadu Buhari attended the signing of the National Peace Accord four years ago, despite not being a candidate in the election at the time.
According to him, the precedent demonstrated the importance of political leaders personally identifying with initiatives aimed at promoting peaceful elections.
“Four years ago he [Tinubu] was around, and President Buhari, who was not even contesting, was around. It is good for you as a leader that you believe in a peace process,” Adebayo said.
The SDP candidate also rejected the representation of Tinubu by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, describing it as inadequate because the SGF was not directly involved in the election.
“Oh please, this is an insult to the process. The SGF is not involved in the election. You have your Vice President who could come,” Adebayo said.
He questioned why Tinubu, who works and lives in Abuja and has significant influence over government institutions, could not personally attend the event.
“I don’t see any reason why President Tinubu, who works and lives in Abuja and who has the influence on influencing the date when the thing will be signed and who has given assurance that he will come, I see that President Tinubu has been missing in action,” he said.
Adebayo maintained that the issue went beyond attendance at a ceremonial event, arguing that the President’s direct participation would have demonstrated political ownership of the commitment to peaceful elections and strengthened confidence in the electoral process.
He urged Tinubu to make a public declaration affirming his commitment to peaceful, free and credible elections, saying such a statement would reassure political parties, security agencies and other government officials.
Presidential candidates and representatives of political parties signed the National Peace Accord in Abuja on Tuesday ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The accord, organised by the National Peace Committee, commits political actors to peaceful conduct and issue-based campaigns before, during and after the elections.
For Adebayo, however, Tinubu’s absence undermined the symbolism of the initiative and raised questions that, in his view, required a direct response from the President.
He therefore challenged Tinubu to publicly explain his absence and reaffirm his administration’s commitment to protecting the integrity of the 2027 electoral process.