12 Candidates Pledge Peace Ahead of Nigeria Election

For the first time in Ekiti State's 30-year history, a gubernatorial election is approaching without a single recorded incident of violence.

All 12 candidates competing in Nigeria's June 20 election gathered in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday to sign a peace accord, pledging to keep the campaign season peaceful through election day and beyond. Governor Biodun Oyebanji, who is seeking another term, called the moment unprecedented in the state's electoral history.

"Ekiti State will be 30 years old in October this year. This is the first time in the history of the state that an election will be a few days away and we will have this kind of peace," Oyebanji told the gathering.

The peace pact was organized by Nigeria's National Peace Committee in partnership with the Independent National Electoral Commission. Witnesses included former head of state General Abdulsalam Abubakar, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, Inspector General of Police Tunji Disu, and INEC Chairman Prof Joash Ojo Amupitan.

The governor pointed to his party's just-completed tour of local governments across the state as proof that peaceful campaigns are possible. Not a single violent incident was reported during the entire tour, a stark contrast to previous election cycles in the region.

INEC Chairman Amupitan reminded candidates that the peace accord isn't just a formality. "This is a moral treaty entered before Nigerian people and the international community," he said, urging candidates to translate their signatures into actions that promote tolerance and respect for the electoral process.

Inspector General Disu assured voters that comprehensive security arrangements are in place. The police have intensified operational deployments, intelligence gathering, and strategic positioning of personnel across the state, and he warned that any attempt to disrupt the electoral process would be dealt with decisively.

The Ripple Effect

The calm in Ekiti State could set a powerful example for other Nigerian states where electoral violence has historically suppressed voter turnout and undermined democracy. When candidates prioritize peace over partisan victories, entire communities benefit from the chance to exercise their civic rights without fear.

Political scientists have long argued that peaceful elections strengthen democratic institutions and build public trust in government. By placing "the interest of the state above partisan consideration," as Governor Oyebanji urged his fellow candidates to do, these 12 politicians are demonstrating that competitive democracy and community safety can coexist.

The accord sends a clear message to voters: your safety matters more than any political victory.