2027: Bamidele warns politicians against hate speech, violence

The Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele.

The Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, has warned politicians against inflammatory rhetoric and other actions that could threaten Nigeria’s peace ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Bamidele, who is also the Chairman of the South-West Caucus in the National Assembly, urged political parties and their candidates to conduct their campaigns peacefully and in accordance with the Electoral Act, 2026 and the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

The Ekiti lawmaker spoke in a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday to commemorate Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.

He acknowledged the right of political actors to exercise their political rights, but said such rights must be exercised within the confines of the law.

Bamidele warned that political freedom did not extend to hate speech, inflammatory comments or actions capable of triggering political unrest and ethno-religious violence before, during and after the elections.

He said, “The exercise of political rights at this defining moment should be guided by the rules of the electoral contest and not by the rules of the jungle. While every aspiration is legitimate in a democracy, it should be pursued with decorum, patriotism and utmost restraint.

“No ambition is worth setting the nation ablaze. As we mark our 66th anniversary of political freedom and prepare for the 2027 elections, political parties and their candidates must conduct their activities within the ambit of the law.

“Nigeria is our collective heritage. She is greater than the political ambition of any party or candidate. Our activities must be conducted to preserve our collective heritage and not destroy what we have sustainably built.

“As political parties and their candidates campaign across the states of the federation and unveil their agenda for the future of our fatherland, such an agenda must align with the wishes and aspirations of our founding fathers.”

The Senate Leader’s warning comes as political parties and their candidates intensify preparations for the 2027 elections, with campaigns expected to dominate the political space in the months ahead.

The electioneering period has also been accompanied by reports of intimidation and the activities of political thugs in some parts of the country, raising concerns over the conduct of the elections.

Bamidele, therefore, urged political actors to prioritise national unity and democratic stability over personal and partisan ambitions.

He said Nigeria’s 66 years of independence should remind political leaders of the need to protect the country’s unity and democratic institutions as they seek electoral mandates.