The Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN) has called on Nigerian youths to resist being used as tools of violence and destruction by politicians in the forthcoming 2027 general elections. National Commandant of the Corps, Dr Dickson Ameh Akoh, made the appeal in Abuja on the occasion of the “2026 United Nations Day of Peace”. He emphasized that youths must opt for democratic maturity and civic dignity in the collective interest of the nation.
Akoh noted that as Nigeria joins the global community to celebrate the UN Day of Peace, it is essential to address the immediate domestic realities facing the country. With the build-up to the 2027 general elections, Nigeria is witnessing palpable political friction and heightening tension across several states and the Federal Capital Territory. He stressed that electoral cycles often test the resilience of the national fabric, making it imperative to proactively de-escalate rhetoric and dismantle the drivers of political violence.
The Peace Corps Chief directly addressed Nigerian youths, urging them not to surrender their future to the instruments of violence. He emphasized that they constitute the heartbeat and greatest demographic asset of the country and must reject the overtures of political merchants who seek to deploy their strength for thuggery, disruption, and unlawful activities during the electioneering campaigns. Instead, youths must choose to be the vanguard of democratic maturity and civic dignity.
Akoh emphasized that electoral competition must be a battle of vision, character, and policy alternatives, never a theatre of intimidation, bloodshed, or destruction of public and private infrastructure. Every Nigerian youth has a sacred civic duty to conduct themselves peacefully throughout the campaign season. He called on youths to demonstrate that their collective desire for national progress far outweighs the narrow, transient interests of partisan opportunists.
The Peace Corps of Nigeria remains resolute in its statutory mission to provide structured engagement, peer education, and community-based surveillance to preserve public order and harmony. The Corps is actively mobilizing grassroots campaigns to equip young Nigerians with non-violent conflict resolution skills, bridge social divides, and serve as credible peace ambassadors throughout the political season.
The United Nations Day of Peace is celebrated under the theme: “Invest in Peace: For Everyone, Everywhere, Every Day.” This theme comes at a decisive moment in human history, when socio-economic anxieties, localized friction, and global uncertainties test common humanity. Akoh noted that peace is neither an accidental occurrence nor a passive condition; rather, it is a deliberate, tangible investment of resources, policy direction, collective will, and daily moral discipline.
The Peace Corps Chief expressed gratitude to key Federal MDAs and international developmental partners present at the event, noting that peace-building requires a multi-stakeholder architecture. He urged participants to turn to active practitioners of peace who invest in tolerance, dialogue, and mutual respect to make the country safer. The Corps is committed to institutionalizing peace, fostering national cohesion, and championing sustainable human security across every corner of Nigeria.
Key points
- The Peace Corps of Nigeria has urged Nigerian youths to reject violence and opt for democratic maturity and civic dignity ahead of the 2027 general elections.
- The Corps is actively mobilizing grassroots campaigns to equip young Nigerians with non-violent conflict resolution skills.
- The United Nations Day of Peace is celebrated under the theme: “Invest in Peace: For Everyone, Everywhere, Every Day.”
