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Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has urged all political parties and candidates to caution their overzealous supporters against vandalism, intimidation and violence during the campaign period ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Gumi made the call in a post on his Facebook page on Saturday.
He cited the low voter turnout in the 2023 Nigerian presidential election as evidence that violence does not win elections, noting that the silent majority often stays away from the polls when the atmosphere is hostile.
The Kaduna-based cleric said, “In the 2023 Nigerian presidential election, out of 93,469,008 registered voters, only 24,965,218 cast their votes — a mere 26.71%. This means 73.29% did not vote.
“This is a recurring pattern: the silent majority often stays away from the polls. Therefore, all political parties and candidates must caution their overzealous supporters against vandalism, intimidation and violence during this campaign period.
“Violence does not translate into votes; it only alienates voters and undermines democracy.”
Gumi’s warning comes amid a growing wave of politically motivated violence barely two months to the 2027 general elections.
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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) lifted the ban on campaigns on August 19, 2026, but what was expected to be a battle of ideas has in many states turned into clashes, attacks on convoys, destruction of billboards and disruption of rallies.
The National Peace Committee, in its monitoring report covering August 19 to October 27, identified political violence and thuggery as the leading violations, recording 33 incidents, followed by misinformation and disinformation with 29 cases, attacks on political activities and campaign materials with 19, and intimidation and threats with 15. Kaduna recorded the highest number of reported violations with nine incidents, while Edo, Enugu and the Federal Capital Territory recorded seven each.
A September 2026 survey by Yiaga Africa found that 84 per cent of Nigerians are keen to vote in 2027, but 61 per cent are concerned about their safety because of the risk of election-related violence.
Independent trackers cited by civil society groups have recorded over 100 breaches of peace accords and roughly 70 physical attacks resulting in about 27 deaths between January and late October 2026.
Recent incidents include a clash at a Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) town hall meeting in Oregun, Lagos, where suspected thugs allegedly armed with guns, cutlasses and axes injured many citizens, the killing of Ifeanyi Nwolie, a 43-year-old supporter of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), during the violent disruption of activities surrounding the party’s governorship campaign in Enugu, and an attack on Peter Obi’s convoy in Calabar, Cross River State, by suspected hoodlums armed with machetes and sticks.
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign billboards and posters have also reportedly been vandalised in Kano and other Northern cities, while APC supporters travelling to a campaign rally in Katsina were attacked, leaving a female passenger injured.
The presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, while governorship and State Houses of Assembly polls are slated for February 6, 2027.
