Why We Make Politicians Sign Peace Accords — Kukah

The convener of the National Peace Committee, Matthew Hassan Kukah, has explained the rationale behind requiring politicians to sign peace accords before and after elections.

Kukah, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, spoke at a stakeholders’ briefing and the presentation of the annotated peace accord organised by The Kukah Centre, with support from the European Union, in Abuja on Monday.

He said the peace accords were designed to encourage political actors to act responsibly, stressing that once they are signed, the responsibility of upholding peace rests not only on politicians but also on Nigerians, the media, and civil society groups.
“When politicians sign an accord, it is not just for the peace committee. It becomes the responsibility of everyone to hold them to it,” Kukah said.
He noted that rising political tension, misinformation, and security concerns continued to threaten the integrity of elections, adding that the peace committee was created to promote mediation, confidence-building, and good faith among political actors.

According to him, the committee’s background engagements have helped provide practical solutions and reduce conflicts during electoral contests.

Kukah said elections must be peaceful, credible, and acceptable, reminding politicians that in every contest there would always be winners and losers.

He urged political actors to view peace accords as a genuine commitment to Nigerians, warning that laws alone cannot guarantee peace without a change of attitude.

“The law is good, but the human heart must also change. If people are not committed, they become sources of conflict,” he said.

Kukah added that the meeting provided an opportunity to reflect on the current electoral environment and identify areas where the peace committee could lend its moral authority to support credible elections.

He also called on the media, civil society, and security agencies to continue working together to build a peaceful and stable Nigeria.