Attacks on political opponents and threats to 2027 poll

As the 2027 general election approaches, the political atmosphere is already charged. Some politicians have become increasingly intolerant of their opponents. They have threatened to visit death upon supporters of rival political parties. These and more are ominous signs that need to be addressed before they get out of control.

Last week, the convoy of the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Peter Obi, was blocked by suspected thugs on Gboko Road in Makurdi, Benue State. Obi was on his way to visit the communities affected by the 2025 Yelwata killings in the state when the incident happened.

The convoy later retreated and left the state. While the state government denied the allegation that it sponsored the thugs, the police later announced that they arrested 46 suspects.

In April 2025, Obi was similarly prevented from visiting some internally displaced persons in Benue State. The state governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, noted then that he was not aware of Obi’s visit and could not guarantee the safety of anyone visiting the state without his knowledge and clearance.

Recently, the Chairman of Kuje Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Samuel Shekwolo, warned those opposed to the All Progressives Congress (APC) to leave the area council.

In Borno State, the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sainna Buba, was reported to have threatened to flog and cut off the fingers of those who failed to support the APC in the forthcoming poll. In Yobe State, the APC Chairman, Muhammad Gadaka, added fuel to the raging fire by urging married women to seek divorce against their husbands who prevented them from voting for the APC. He said he was ready to pay their bride price and marry them.

Ebonyi State governor, Francis Nwifuru, and the Senator representing Osun East Senatorial District, Francis Fadahunsi, were reported to have also made some incendiary comments against political opponents. While Fadahunsi, a chieftain of the APC, allegedly directed his supporters to kill Accord Party members in Osun, Nwifuru, who is also of the APC, reportedly ordered the local government chairmen in his state to mercilessly deal with opposition parties. 

Violent rhetoric is capable of setting the country ablaze. In the First Republic, intolerant disposition of politicians led to violence and deaths in the first election conducted in 1964/65. Over 200 lives were lost in the ensuing crisis, especially in the South-West. It culminated in the takeover of government by the military in 1966.

The same scenario played out in the Second and Third Republics. It led to the death of about 80 people in election-related violence in 1999. In 2003 and 2007, about 100 and 300 people died respectively in similar circumstances.

Over 800 people died in the 2011 post-election violence, particularly in the North. This was after the late former President Muhammadu Buhari claimed he won the presidential poll in which Goodluck Jonathan was declared the winner. Since 2015 when the APC came to power, at least 870 election-related deaths have occurred in Nigeria.

Prior to the 2023 general election, some supporters of some political parties issued threats against members and supporters of rival political parties. This almost derailed the election. In March this year, Yoruba Nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo, also known as Sunday Igboho, warned opposition figures, particularly Peter Obi of the NDC and the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Party (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, not to campaign in the South-West.

In recent times, violent attacks against opposition political party members and supporters have occurred in Edo, Lagos, Rivers, Kebbi, and Ekiti states, among others.

We condemn the trend of politicians employing threats, intimidation and violence to cow opponents and their supporters. Democracy thrives on the right of the people to freely choose their leaders in a credible contest. When that freedom is abridged, crisis follows and the people become the ultimate losers.

The National Peace Committee chaired by the former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd), in partnership with the Kukah Centre, has tried to engender peace in our electoral process through the annual national peace accord which it has facilitated since 2015. On August 18 this year, some presidential candidates performed the annual ritual of signing the peace accord in Abuja.

They pledged to commit to peaceful, issued-based campaigns and avoid hate speech, personal attacks, violence and other conduct that could undermine the electoral process. Unfortunately, this has not stopped the frequent conflicts that occur in the country’s political system.

Under the Electoral Act, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) strictly prohibits threats, hate speech, and inflammatory language during political campaigns under the Electoral Act.  Under the Act, individual candidates found guilty of inciting violence, making threats, or using abusive language face fines of up to ₦5 million or a 12-month prison sentence upon conviction. Political parties guilty of the offence face a fine of up to ₦10 million for a first offense, and ₦2 million for any subsequent offenses.

We support this law. Political parties, their supporters and candidates must maintain decorum in the political space. Violence, hate speeches, and combative campaign should not be tolerated. Law enforcement agencies must do their work. Whoever threatens the peaceful conduct of the 2027 election, no matter how highly placed, must be made to face the full weight of the law.