How to ensure peaceful campaigns, elections

From Laide Raheem, Abeokuta; Scholastic Hir, Makurdi; Tony John, Port Harcourt; Noah Ebije, Kaduna; Okey Sampson, Umuahia; Femi Folarinmi, Yenagoa and Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin

As the campaigns for 2027 have started, there are issues of threats and attacks here and there allegedly mostly carried out by members of the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In this report some Nigerians suggested what should be done to ensure that the campaigns and the elections are peaceful.

President should call his party members to order to allow sanity reign – Osom Mackbere, lawyer; Yenagoa

On this issue, we have a president who can really lead by example. Nobody is blaming him because others want to take power from him, but there are some fundamentals of civility that he would uphold, and give security agencies the marching orders, and sanity would return. He has been allowing his ministers and top members of his party to exhibit acts of impunity to members of the opposition. He has enabled his people to fight his opponents by proxy. The President should call his party members to order to allow sanity to reign.

APC leadership should call their members, supporters to order – Emeka Adule, political analyst; Umuahia

Nigerians, to say the truth, are not surprised at the threats and attacks by members of the ruling APC across the country. Nobody has expected less. Because of the hardship they have inflicted on the citizens, they have realised that nobody would vote for them in 2027, and so believe that threats, intimidation and attacks are the best tools to win the election. What should be done to ensure that the campaigns and elections are peaceful is for APC leadership to call their members and supporters to order because the party does not have monopoly of violence.

APC should sanction members who engage in acts that may cause trouble during campaigns – Mrs. Okuata Chima, public servant, Umuahia

It is quite unfortunate that the ruling APC members are engineering the threats and attacks across the country. They don’t want to learn from history. They should know that in some countries, the military in an attempt to quell such violence when they escalate, takes over government. APC should sanction those who may want to continue to engage in acts that may cause trouble during this campaign period.

Nigerian politicians should play by the rules – David West, right activist; Yenagoa

Nigerian politicians should change their character and attitude. From all the indications we are seeing, it seems the politicians want to make the 2027 elections a bloody one. There are also unguarded utterances by some politicians from the ruling party. To make the 2027 elections a peaceful one, Nigerian politicians should discuss issues. They should play by the rules.

Security agencies must promptly investigate every allegation of violence, incitement – Manasseh Denga, financial expert; Abuja

Campaigns for the 2027 elections must not be defined by threats, intimidation or violence. If established, such incidents undermine public confidence in the electoral process. All political parties, candidates, supporters and public officials should embrace issue-based campaigns and respect every Nigerian’s right to vote freely and without fear. To ensure peaceful elections, security agencies and electoral authorities must enforce the law impartially, promptly investigate every allegation of violence or incitement, and hold offenders accountable regardless of political affiliation. Political, traditional and religious leaders should also promote peace, tolerance and responsible conduct throughout the electoral process.

Security agencies should see that laws are enforced, law breakers held accountable – Fidelis Achor, civil servant; Makurdi

The incidents and statements reported from different parts of the country, if accurately established, are worrisome and deeply concerning because inflammatory rhetoric, intimidation, threats and politically motivated violence have no place in a democratic society. Therefore, as campaigns for the 2027 general elections gather momentum, all political parties, candidates, supporters and public office holders must conduct themselves responsibly, respect the rights of opponents, and allow citizens to exercise their democratic choices freely, without fear, inducement or violence.

To ensure peaceful campaigns and credible elections, the relevant authorities, including security agencies, INEC, political parties, CSOs and the media, should see that laws are enforced and law breakers are not only exposed but held accountable regardless of their status or political affiliation.

Security agencies, INEC should take allegations of political violence, intimidation seriously – Ohali Godswill, student; Port Harcourt

What should be done to ensure peaceful campaigns and elections in 2027 is for political leaders, their supporters and security agencies to respect the rights of every Nigerian. Nobody should be threatened, attacked or intimidated because of the political party or candidate they choose to support.

I believe security agencies and INEC should take allegations of political violence and intimidation seriously and ensure that anyone found guilty is properly investigated and dealt with according to the law, irrespective of their political party or position.

Political leaders should be made accountable for language coming from their campaigns, supporters – Obinna Ebogidi, peace advocate; Port Harcourt

What we are seeing is deeply concerning because inflammatory political rhetoric, when left unchecked, can gradually normalise intimidation and create an environment where violence becomes easier to justify. We are already experiencing similar unfortunate rhetoric in Rivers State, and the lesson is that political actors must recognise that their words have consequences.

What should be done now is to make political leaders personally accountable for the language coming from their campaigns and supporters.

President should direct relevant agencies to invite those characters for questioning -Sunday Oibe, chairman, Northern Christian group; Kaduna

This is a troubling signal that the ruling party is bent on destroying the hard fought and hard-earned democracy. Those of us that are old enough are beginning to wonder if the Bola Tinubu that fought the military in ensuring that democratic government came to Nigeria is the same person that all these are happening under his watch? Nigerians should rise to say no to this madness going on. One begins to wonder if this country is governed by any law at all. All these hate speeches and threats are being said in the open and the DSS, Nigeria police, etc. are pretending not to hear or see.

The president must step up his game by talking to Nigerians and reassuring us that 2027 must be peaceful and all those beating drums of war don’t have his blessing. Secondly, he should direct the relevant agencies to invite those characters for questioning and write undertakings to be of good behaviour before, during and after the elections come 2027.

Cultural renaissance can supplant peaceful ways of doing things -Anthony Sani, ex ACF scribe; Kaduna

Violent politics has been part of Nigerian politics. Recall the Wild, Wild West of the First Republic; the Omoboriowo in Ondo State and Nwobodo Vanguard and Ikemba Front in Anambra State of the Second Republic. Nigerians tend to be violent in their struggle for power.

It is that violence culture that manifests in insecurity that transcends ethnic, religious and regional boundaries. It is so because many Nigerians do not believe in a democracy that is not premised on the triple foundation of justice, liberty and common decency. Only cultural renaissance can supplant peaceful ways of doing things in a violent culture.

Unguarded statements from political leaders should be condemned – Ademola Adeogun, photographer; Abeokuta

With an election approaching, there is no need to heat up the polity. The unguarded statements from some of our political leaders should be condemned. Inflammatory rhetoric only deepens division and distracts us from the issues that truly matter to Nigerians. We should instead commit to a peaceful election and allow the will of the people to prevail. We have had enough bloodshed. What we need now is continued peaceful coexistence so we can move the country forward.

APC, other party leaderships should condemn violence in clear terms – Tiamiyu Taiwo, right activist; Abeokuta The reports coming out of Benue, Borno, Yobe, FCT and Ebonyi are concerning, especially with campaigns for 2027 just getting underway.

Political competition should be about ideas and service, not threats, intimidation or attacks on candidates and voters. Every allegation, including the reported attack on Peter Obi’s convoy in Benue and the statements credited to officials in Borno, Yobe, FCT and Ebonyi, must be investigated promptly and transparently.

Nigeria’s democracy only works when citizens can vote freely without fear of reprisals to their jobs, families or safety. I urge party leaders across the board, including APC leadership, to rein in members, condemn violence in clear terms, and allow security agencies to do their work. We need campaigns focused on issues, not fear, so voters in 2027 can make their choices in peace.

Security agencies should arrest, prosecute offenders – Emmanuel Ogbidi, rights activist, Benin

In all of the scenarios pointed out, you will agree with me that the perpetrators of violence and threat to peaceful elections are all from the ruling party.

Therefore, what we can do is to see that the security agencies arrest and prosecute those offenders, which will serve as a deterrent to others who may want to indulge in the same act. This has been lacking since the incident of the Osun election.

INEC, as an umpire, must demonstrate unbiased sanctions and actions against political parties and candidates following the misconduct of their supporters. They have to use the series of actions by the incumbent as a scapegoat not to be seen as an umpire who can bark and not bite.

Security agencies must investigate such statements, incidents impartially -Prince Fawaz Muhammad, politician; Benin

Elections must never become a contest of threats, intimidation and violence. Political leaders across all parties must take responsibility for the language they use and the conduct of their supporters. When a politician threatens citizens because of how they intend to vote, that is not leadership; it is a threat to democracy.

Security agencies must investigate such statements and incidents impartially, while INEC and other stakeholders should strengthen early-warning and conflict-prevention mechanisms ahead of the elections.

As young Nigerians, we must make it clear that political disagreement is not a declaration of war.