…political competition should never come at the expense of peace, says Swiss envoy
The European Union (EU) has reiterated its commitment to neutrality ahead of the 2027 general elections, stating that it does not support any political party or candidate in Nigeria.
…political competition should never come at the expense of peace, says Swiss envoyREAD ALSO: 2027: INEC has no preferred candidate or party – Amupitan
This was stated on Tuesday in Abuja by the EU Ambassador and Head of Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, His Excellency Gautier Mignot. He was represented by the Chargé d’Affaires, Agnieszka Torres, at the formal signing of the First National Peace Agreement on Thematic Campaigns organized by the National Peace Committee in collaboration with the Kukah Center.
“The European Union and its Member States wish to reiterate their priority of impartiality. We are not here to support any political party or candidate other than Nigeria, its people and its democracy.”
Torres said the EU was honored to witness the signing ceremony of the presidential candidates as Nigeria prepares for another critical election cycle.
“In 2023, Nigeria once again set an example for Africa and the world by peacefully transitioning power from one civil administration to another,” he said.
He expressed hope that the 2027 elections will further consolidate Nigeria’s democracy through fair, credible, transparent and peaceful elections.
“As the largest democracy in Africa, and this was greatly emphasized today, elections in Nigeria are very important. First of all, they are important for Nigerians, but they are also important for the rest of the continent, as Nigeria has the responsibility to lead and inspire other African countries,” Torres said.
He told political party leaders that they have a special duty to ensure peaceful campaigns.
He urged them to oppose violence, hate speech and misinformation, and to promote respect, inclusion and tolerance.
“You are role models for voters and citizens, especially for the youth of Nigeria who look to you for guidance and example,” he said.
Torres highlighted that the integrity of the process depends on the collective commitment of all actors to the rules and institutions.
READ ALSO: 2027: INEC has no preferred candidate or party – Amupitan
In this regard, he said INEC must be allowed to operate freely without pressure or interference and must in turn demonstrate neutrality, transparency, professionalism and accountability to gain the trust of the public.
He also called on security agencies to maintain strict neutrality and ensure the safety of all actors in the electoral process.
He commended the Deputy Inspector General of Police for specifically mentioning the role of women and gender in elections.
“I would like to thank you for mentioning gender and women in the electoral processes. I guess you were the only one, except the MC, who mentioned that today. So, as a woman, the only woman on the stage today, although you represent my ambassador, who is a man, thank you for pointing this out, sir,” she said.
The EU official praised the National Peace Committee for its consistent role in promoting peaceful elections since 2015, noting that its work remains vital ahead of 2027.
Torres congratulated the presidential candidates and political parties for the signing of the First National Peace Agreement.
Also speaking, the Swiss Ambassador to Nigeria, Felix Egloff, represented by Mr. Simon Gemperli, Chargé d’Affaires of the Swiss Embassy, urged Nigerian political actors to ensure that the power struggle in 2027 does not undermine the peace and stability of the country.
Gemperli said the message from the meeting was simple but critical.
“The message from today’s meeting is simple but important: political competition must never come at the expense of peace,” he said.
He noted that democracy thrives on differences, but those differences must be expressed through ideas, policies and peaceful debates.
“Parties will not agree. Candidates will compete. Citizens will make different decisions. What matters is that these differences are expressed through ideas, policies and peaceful political debate. That is why commitment to campaigns based on specific issues is so timely,” he said.
The Swiss envoy said Nigerians deserve debates focused on real issues as the country moves towards 2027, including security, livelihoods, education, governance, inclusion and the future of the country.
Speaking on the current project, “Strengthening National Peace Committee Stakeholder Engagement for Peace and Good Governance in Nigeria”, he said it aims to strengthen engagement with electoral institutions, political actors and local peace structures, while improving accountability and early warning before 2027.
Gemperli cited lessons from the 2026 off-cycle elections in Ekiti and Osun states, where the partnership focused on accountability, early warning and response to electoral risks.
He stressed that peaceful elections are more than just the absence of violence.
He reaffirmed Switzerland’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s efforts to achieve peaceful, inclusive and credible democratic processes, and commended the National Peace Committee for its role.
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