Nigerian politicians, give peace a chance!

It’s campaign season, quite alright. From August 19 to February 4, 2027, politicians vying for different political offices will crisscross their constituencies to tell the people what they intend to do if voted into office. It is, however, concerning and disheartening to witness the scant regard that Nigeria’s political class has shown for the Peace Accord they voluntarily signed on August 18, 2026.

Across several states, the politics of intolerance is on display. Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State reportedly said he will orchestrate the removal of local government chairmen who fail to win their councils for the ruling All Progressives Congress. The Chairman of Kuje Area Council, Samuel Shekwolo, asked those who will not vote for APC to leave the council. Chairman of Gwandu Local Government, Alhaji Atiku Mandiya, was seen in a viral video telling his supporters to deal with anyone speaking against Governor Nasir Idris of Kebbi State ahead of the 2027 elections.  Borno State Commissioner for Youth Sports and Poverty Alleviation, Sainna Buba, threatening political opponents, although he later apologised. Chairman of Esan West, Blessing Ebhodaghe, in Edo State last week asked all drivers at the Onitsha Park in Ekpoma to willy-nilly wear President Bola Tinubu’s emblematic signature cap. And the list goes on.

Abia State Signage Agency is asking presidential candidates to pay a whopping N200m before they will be allowed to mount billboards, paste posters and display any campaign materials. Governorship candidates are to pay N150m. This is preposterous! Governor Seyi Makinde and the Allied Peoples Movement have challenged these prohibitive fees in court, but we do know how our court system works at a snail’s pace. Perhaps, by the time the court judgment will come, the campaign may be over.

I was on News Hub on Silverbird Television on Monday, September 21, 2026, to speak to these issues. I minced no words in condemning them and affirmed that the reason behind the surge is because of the culture of impunity that has been built around electoral offences, including violence. I have said, time and again, that there are broadly three types of violence that are witnessed in Nigeria’s political milieu. They are physical, structural and psychological violence.

Take, for instance, charging of astronomic fees before candidates can display their campaign materials, be it posters or billboards, is tantamount to structural violence. In many states, opposition party candidates are disallowed from airing their political jingles and adverts in state-owned media. Sometimes, they do it covertly by charging exorbitant fees that they know they cannot afford. At other times, they are disallowed from using stadia or event centres belonging to the state.

Meanwhile, Section 99 (2) of the Electoral Act 2026 says, “State apparatus, including the media, shall not be employed to the advantage or disadvantage of any political party or candidate at any election.”  Because of the denial of access to state-owned media, many politicians have had to establish their own radio, television and newspapers. Check out the list of politicians with media ownership. Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe established West Africa Pilot in 1937; Chief Obafemi Awolowo established Nigerian Tribune in 1949; Chief MKO Abiola established National Concord; Senator Orji Kalu owns The Sun and The Telegraph newspapers; and President Bola Tinubu is no exception. He owns a media conglomerate – The Nation, TVC News, and Max FM.

It is noteworthy that psychological violence is inflicted on candidates when strenuous efforts are made to de-market them, either through fake news, misinformation and disinformation or anything meant to tarnish their images. In Ogun State, a section of the political class has alleged that the APC governorship candidate, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, better known as Yayi, is a native of Ekiti State and not from the state he is trying to govern. Meanwhile, this same gentleman served twice as a senator in Lagos State (2015 – 2023) without any ado before crossing over to Ogun State in 2023 to represent the people of Ogun West senatorial district. All this noise about his state of origin is a smear campaign meant to dent his image. Of course, he maintained that he is from Ilaro in Ogun State and threatened to sue his detractors linking him to Ekiti State.

From past experiences, as we get close to the election D-Day in 2027, there will be a spike in the aforementioned three types of violence. The only way to curb it is for law enforcement agencies to wake up to their responsibilities and nip it in the bud. The Independent National Electoral Commission, better known as INEC, established a standing committee known as the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security under the Prof. Attahiru Jega-led commission. That committee is expected to provide election security. I do hope they will rise to the occasion and not allow bad politicians to dilute the peace of our country because of the election.

As per the law, there are plethora of laws that have criminalised electoral violence. Part VII  (Sections 118 – 133 of the Electoral Act) is wholly dedicated to Electoral Offences.  Section 227 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as altered, is also among the laws that have criminalised electoral violence. Candidates and their political parties that sign on to the Peace Pact must respect the accord. If they want to violate it in breach, law enforcement officers should spring into action and get such scoundrels arrested, investigated and prosecuted, not minding if they belong to the ruling party or the opposition. We should remember that electoral violence caused the collapse of the First and Second Republics. That history should not be allowed to repeat itself. INEC Voter Education and Publicity Department should be well-resourced to step up the campaign against political intolerance and violence. Civil society organisations and the media must all join hands to sensitise citizens against electoral violence.