The Deputy National Chairman (South) of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Prince Nwaeze Onu, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to sign a separate “justice accord” ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Onu warned that any peace agreement signed by political parties and candidates could be undermined if the electoral umpire was not equally committed to fairness, transparency and accountability.
In a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja, the NNPP chieftain argued that INEC should be bound by the same principles expected of contestants who commit themselves to peaceful conduct before elections.
According to him, it would create a credibility gap for candidates and political parties to sign peace accords while the institution responsible for conducting the election remains outside any formal commitment to justice and fairness.
He proposed that the justice accord should be a written and publicly available commitment by INEC to Nigerians, with the commission taking responsibility for delivering free, fair and credible elections.
Onu also called for electoral officials involved in the conduct of the 2027 elections to take formal oaths of fairness and impartiality, either by the Bible or Quran, according to their faith.
He said such an undertaking would help strengthen public confidence in the electoral process and make officials more conscious of the consequences of breaching their commitment to impartiality.
The NNPP chieftain warned that peace without justice would remain fragile, stressing that allegations of bias against the electoral umpire could trigger post-election violence, rejection of results and prolonged political disputes.
He cited previous election cycles, including the 2022 and 2023 electoral period, as examples of how controversies surrounding the conduct of electoral officials could affect public confidence in election results.
Onu also expressed concern over alleged political interference in INEC, saying any attempt by political actors to influence the commission’s decisions could undermine its constitutional responsibility as an independent electoral body.
He specifically referred to controversies surrounding the Osun governorship election and alleged interference by political authorities, arguing that such developments had heightened public suspicion about the neutrality of the electoral process.
The NNPP leader said INEC’s meetings with political parties and repeated assurances of free and fair elections would not be enough without concrete and written commitments that Nigerians could use to hold the commission accountable.
He further questioned the commission’s handling of issues relating to nomination, substitution and ballot access, insisting that all eligible Nigerians and political parties should receive equal treatment in accordance with the Electoral Act and INEC guidelines.
Onu urged the relevant electoral authorities to investigate complaints already submitted over alleged irregularities before the commencement of major electoral activities for the 2027 polls.
He also called on the peace committee overseeing the electoral process to go beyond ceremonial signing of agreements by scrutinising INEC’s activities and demanding safeguards against actions capable of undermining the credibility of the elections.
The NNPP chieftain maintained that the credibility of the 2027 elections would depend not only on the conduct of political parties and candidates but also on the neutrality, transparency and accountability of INEC.
He warned that where Nigerians believe the electoral commission has been compromised, even a peace accord signed by contestants may not be sufficient to prevent disputes, violence or rejection of election results.
Onu therefore urged INEC to publicly commit itself to justice and fairness ahead of the 2027 elections, saying only a credible electoral process could guarantee lasting peace and broad acceptance of the outcome.
