The Nigerian Peace Accord: A Symbolic Gesture or Pathway to Electoral Justice?

Electoral violence is a critical challenge that undermines democratic processes globally. In many countries, elections marred by violence threaten the legitimacy of the electoral outcomes and often lead to widespread instability. Nigeria’s electoral history is riddled with incidents of violence, often exacerbated by the exploitation of identity politics and fierce competition for political power. Historically, the failure to prosecute those responsible for election-related violence has fostered an environment of impunity. This has encouraged political elites to use violence as a tool for political gain, knowing they are unlikely to face legal repercussions. The National Peace Committee (NPC), a coalition of religious, civil society, and political leaders, introduced the Peace Accord in 2015 to address this issue. This Accord is a voluntary pledge signed by political actors, committing them to peaceful conduct during and post-election elections. However, while the Peace Accord is hailed as a significant initiative to foster a peaceful electoral process, its effectiveness as a mechanism for achieving electoral justice remains debatable.

In light of these issues, this edition of the Nextier SPD Policy Weekly examines whether the Nigerian Peace Accord is a symbolic gesture or an effective tool for achieving electoral peace and justice. By identifying gaps and shortcomings in the current framework, evidence-based recommendations were formulated to strengthen the Peace Accord to mitigate electoral violence and foster peaceful transitions of power in Nigeria.

Click here to download.