The Nigeria Police Force and the National Peace Committee, chaired by former Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.), have intensified efforts to prevent political violence and rising tension ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The moves come amid growing concerns over alleged inflammatory statements and incidents involving political actors as parties increase their mobilisation for the elections.
The police are investigating comments allegedly made by Borno State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Sainna Buba; Chairman of Kuje Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory, Samuel Shekwolo; and Senator Francis Fadahunsi, who represents Osun East Senatorial District.
Meanwhile, the National Peace Committee has activated a situation room and Electoral Offences Tracking System to monitor political campaigns, possible violations of the peace accord, electoral laws and other actions that could threaten the credibility of the electoral process.
The heightened monitoring follows a number of controversial statements and reported incidents that have raised concerns about possible intimidation and violence ahead of the 2027 polls.
Political statements trigger concerns
Shekwolo recently attracted criticism after a video circulated online showing him warning residents who did not support the All Progressives Congress (APC) to leave the Kuje Area Council ahead of the elections.
Shortly afterwards, suspected thugs reportedly attacked an Accord Party political meeting in Kuje, Abuja, on Sunday. The attackers were said to have used cutlasses to disperse participants, damaged campaign materials and furniture, and injured at least one person.
In Osun State, Senator Fadahunsi also faced criticism following a video in which he allegedly issued threats against members of the Accord Party in Ilesa.
The APC senator was speaking in Yoruba while addressing supporters during a protest at the palace of the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland over alleged repeated killings of APC supporters in the area.
His remarks came a day after three people were reportedly killed in a shooting in the Imo area of Ilesa, amid tensions before the August 15 governorship election. The circumstances surrounding those deaths remained disputed.
Borno State Commissioner Sainna Buba also came under criticism over allegations that he threatened to flog and cut off the fingers of residents who refused to support the APC in the 2027 election.
The incidents have heightened concerns about the potential use of intimidation, threats and violence during the electoral process.
Opposition accuses APC
Opposition parties have accused the APC-led government of contributing to the rising political tension.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, backed by Tanimu Turaki (SAN), alleged that the ruling party was concerned that a free and credible election could produce an outcome unfavourable to it.
Ememobong argued that recent threats and attacks were intended to frighten voters, reduce participation and influence the outcome of the election.
He described the incidents as part of a wider pattern rather than isolated events and said opposition parties were working towards creating a broader platform for Nigerians who want political change.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) also accused President Bola Tinubu and the APC of actions and statements capable of increasing political tension.
NDC National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, said democracy was facing serious challenges in Nigeria and condemned alleged attempts to use violence and undemocratic methods to intimidate opposition parties.
He called on security agencies and the international community to protect Nigeria’s democratic process and urged voters not to be intimidated from participating in the 2027 elections.
The Action Democratic Party (ADP) National Chairman, Yabagi Sani, similarly cautioned political actors against conduct that could create disorder during the election period.
Sani acknowledged that national elections naturally generate concerns over security, rigging, intimidation and the influence of incumbency, but warned that actions linked to the election should not threaten lives or property.
APC rejects allegations
The APC rejected claims that it was recruiting people to cause violence or deliberately creating political instability.
The party’s Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, challenged those making the accusations to produce evidence.
Ibrahim argued that it would make little sense for a ruling party seeking to retain power to deliberately create anarchy that could undermine law and order.
He also questioned the identities of some individuals making allegations against the APC, suggesting that people could falsely present themselves as party members in an attempt to damage the party’s reputation.
According to him, allegations without supporting evidence should remain allegations until they are properly established.
Peace Committee begins monitoring
The National Peace Committee has also intensified its monitoring of political activities and alleged breaches of the political accord signed by parties and candidates.
The committee’s Head of Secretariat, Fr. Atta Barkindo, said a situation room and an Electoral Offences Tracking System had been established to monitor violations involving political parties, candidates, supporters and other stakeholders.
He said the committee was documenting both violent and non-violent incidents and would forward relevant information to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the police.
Barkindo explained that the Peace Committee does not have the constitutional power to prosecute or impose sanctions, making it necessary to refer suspected offences to the appropriate authorities.
He also disclosed that the committee was advocating for the establishment of an Electoral Offences Commission by the National Assembly.
Barkindo urged the media to encourage political parties to focus their campaigns on policies and issues affecting Nigerians.
INEC urges compliance with campaign rules
An unnamed senior INEC official said the commission could not comment on specific allegations because they involved security matters.
The official, however, stressed that political parties and their supporters were expected to comply with the rules governing election campaigns.
The official added that statements made by political actors that potentially amount to security concerns fall within the responsibility of the relevant security agencies.
Police investigate alleged inciting statements
The Nigeria Police Force confirmed that investigations were underway into the alleged statements attributed to Fadahunsi, Shekwolo and Buba.
Police spokesperson Ani Iniedu said the force had already questioned Senator Fadahunsi over his alleged threat against Accord Party members.
He stressed that making statements capable of inciting members of the public, particularly in connection with the electoral process, could constitute a criminal offence.
The police spokesman said the force would continue to enforce the law regardless of the political status of those involved.
Iniedu said all the alleged inflammatory statements were being investigated and that the outcomes would be made public.
He also disclosed that 154 people arrested during the August 15 Osun State governorship election remained under investigation.
The police appealed to members of the public who witnessed incidents or possessed relevant evidence to cooperate with investigators.
Iniedu identified the reluctance of witnesses to come forward as one of the challenges facing the prosecution of suspected offenders, stressing that allegations must be backed by evidence.
Council of the Wise warns presidential candidates
The Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development’s Council of the Wise, chaired by former Chief Justice of Nigeria Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, has also appealed to presidential candidates to avoid hate speech, inflammatory comments and violence during the 2027 campaign.
The council made the call in Abuja during an engagement with Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) presidential candidate and former Cross River State Governor, Donald Duke.
Ariwoola urged candidates and their supporters to respect electoral laws and guidelines and focus their campaigns on issues affecting the country.
He recalled the history of election-related violence in Nigeria, including the violence that followed the 2011 general election, which he said resulted in more than 1,000 deaths.
The former Chief Justice urged Duke to demonstrate responsible political leadership and ensure that his campaign avoided comments capable of provoking violence.
He also called on candidates to encourage their supporters to comply with electoral rules and contribute to building greater trust in Nigeria’s democratic system.
Donald Duke pledges peaceful campaign
Responding, Donald Duke assured the Council of the Wise that he and the PRP would conduct themselves lawfully throughout the election period.
Duke said the party would not resort to violence or confrontation even when faced with difficulties, insisting that political disputes should be addressed through legitimate channels.
The former governor argued that Nigerian politics had increasingly become a “do-or-die affair” because political activity was being treated as an occupation rather than a form of public service.
He attributed the growing attraction to politics to factors including unemployment, economic hardship and other social challenges, which he said had encouraged Nigerians to view political office as a means of livelihood.
Duke maintained that politics should instead be regarded as a vocation through which citizens contribute ideas about how society should be governed.
With political activity intensifying ahead of the 2027 elections, security agencies and peace-building organisations are now calling on political parties, candidates and their supporters to avoid inflammatory rhetoric and actions that could threaten peaceful participation in the electoral process.
Source: PUNCH
