Tinubu’s Absence At Peace Accord ‘Big Minus’ – ADP Chairman, Sanni

The National Chairman of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), Yabagi Sani, has described President Bola Tinubu’s absence from the signing of the 2027 election peace accord as a “big minus” for the process.

Sani spoke on TVC News Breakfast’s FCT Brief, anchored by Tijesu Adeoye and Esomomo Imodou, on Wednesday.

The ADP chairman said the peace accord was primarily a moral commitment by political actors and institutions to ensure free, fair and credible elections, making the President’s presence important to its credibility.

According to him, Tinubu, as the country’s number one citizen and the “number one moral guarantor” of the electoral process, could have strengthened the accord simply by attending the ceremony.

“The mere presence of Mr President would have added that strength, the moral strength, to what we were doing,” Sani said.

He argued that Tinubu did not need to remain throughout the ceremony, saying even five or 10 minutes at the event would have demonstrated his commitment to the electoral process.

“You didn’t even have to say anything. Everybody, when I was there, I was looking for, where is Mr President?” he said.

Sani dismissed suggestions that the controversy over the President’s absence amounted to political point-scoring, insisting that the President’s role transcended that of an ordinary participant.

“Mr President is not one person. Mr President is the person. This is about him,” he said.

The ADP chairman said the President’s conduct and that of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) would be crucial to the credibility of the 2027 general election, given their dominant position in Nigeria’s political space.

He also criticised the recurring nature of peace accords, arguing that they had increasingly become ceremonial exercises without sufficient consequences for violations.

Sani said political actors who sign such agreements should be held publicly accountable when they subsequently breach their commitments.

“How can you want to rule the country, you want to govern the country, and you cannot keep to a simple agreement?” he asked.

He maintained that the ultimate objective of the accord should be to secure a transparent electoral process, prevent violence and ensure that institutions responsible for managing elections are accountable.

The ADP chairman also expressed concern about the effectiveness of Nigeria’s institutions, particularly the judiciary and electoral bodies, arguing that structural reforms were required to guarantee greater independence.

He said the credibility of the electoral process could not depend solely on moral appeals, stressing that institutions must also operate in a manner that commands public confidence.