2027 Campaigns: Decorum or Destruction? Nigerians await a new narrative
Political activities are already gathering momentum across the country ahead of the 2027 elections, following the lifting of the ban on public campaigns by the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC)
Presidential and National Assembly campaigns commenced on Aug. 19,while Governorship and State House of Assembly campaigns are scheduled to begin on Sept. 9.
The elections will hold on Jan. 16 for the Presidential and National Assembly, and on Feb. 6 for the Governorship and State Assembly elections.
The All Progressives Congress(APC),the ruling party, has unveiled its Presidential Campaign Council, signaling its readiness to commence campaigns for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu, its candidate.
Another candidate, Mr. Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress(NDC), has also kicked off his campaigns, marking the beginning of another attempt at the country’s top seat, following his first, but impressive attempt in 2023.
Posters of Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress(ADC),as well as those of other candidates, have flooded major cities across the country, announcing the beginning of another political season.
With the start of campaigns, a familiar question is resurfacing in many quarters : Will the new electioneering season be defined by decorum or by destruction?
The question carries added weight against the backdrop of the pockets of violence recorded in the 2023 election.
The Election Violence Monitoring and Mitigation Group,an election monitoring initiative under the Kimpact Development Initiative(KDI), documented the 2023 election as particularly bloody.
In a report ,KDI Executive Director, Mr. Bukola Idowu, said a total of 238 incidents of violence and 28 deaths were recorded during the 2023 general elections.
According to him, 98 of the incidents occurred during the Feb. 25 presidential election,while 140 were recorded during the March governorship and State House of Assembly elections.
The report is titled “The Quest for Peaceful Election: The Report and Documentation of KDI’s 2023 General Election Security Interventions and Assessments.
It paints a disturbing picture of an electoral environment often likened to a high-tension tournament, where contestants seek victory by every possible means.
That picture appears to be creeping back. The build-up to the recently conducted Osun governorship election was marred by several election-related violent incidents and deaths.
Similarly, the last primaries of many political parties were also marred by violence ,protests amid claims of irregularities.
Discussions in political circles now centre on whether there will be any remarkable difference in 2027 or whether the country is headed for another cycle of bitterness.
As the tempo rises, political stakeholders have urged political parties, candidates, and their supporters to eschew violence,calling on them to make 2027 a reference point for peaceful elections.
They have urged parties and candidates to focus not only on winning votes, but also on conducting issue-based campaigns to strengthen Nigeria’s democratic process.
Stakeholders have also urged INEC to ensure the elections are free, fair, and credible.
Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria former INEC National Commissioner and constitutional lawyer, Mr. Festus Okoye, said the economy and security challenges are expected to be among campaign issues ahead of 2027.
“The central and most fundamental issue in governance praxis is the crushing poverty of ordinary Nigerians. The question is: which party has the magic wand to alleviate it and make life worth living?,” he said.
Okoye, who also served as INEC spokesman, argued that Nigerians were no longer interested in rhetoric, grandstanding, and optics,saying they wanted concrete, achievable gains.
He said the ruling party must convince the electorate that the removal of fuel subsidy and other policies had delivered tangible benefits while opposition candidates would be pressed by voters on how to make things better.
He urged parties to present clear blueprints to end insecurity, re-engage young people who are gradually disengaging from politics, and demonstrate that votes will count.
Okoye also cautioned against manipulating ethnic and religious identities, warning that such practices would only deepen tension, distrust, and possible disintegration.
Aligning with him, a former INEC spokesman and former Head of Department, Voter Education and Publicity in Lagos, Mr. Olufemi Akinbiyi, said campaigns must be peaceful and free of ethnic or religious colouration.
“As the presidential campaign commences now, politicians should advise their supporters to keep it low, calm, and peaceful,” he said.
Akinbiyi said the electorate wanted to know how candidates intend to address insecurity, the economy, healthcare, education, inflation, food insecurity, and unemployment.
“Everybody in the country knows that people are complaining all the time because of the state of the economy. What and how each candidate wants to address this is what we are looking for,” he said.
He added that increasing cost of education,health and housing and the widening gap between income and prices must feature prominently.
Also speaking with NAN,a legal practitioner and development advocate, Mr. Jide Ologun, said campaigns should provide an opportunity for parties to present concrete policies and programmes, rather than dwell on personalities.
“Candidates should provide clear solutions to the visible problems confronting the country, particularly the economy, employment, insecurity, and infrastructure,” he said.
He tasked INEC with ensuring free, fair, and credible elections,urging authorities to enforce electoral laws without fear or favour.
Ologun also called on voters not to sell their votes.
“If you sell your vote, you are selling your future and your conscience. Four years may appear short, but you will understand the value of that time when you find yourself under the leadership of the wrong people,” he said.
Another lawyer, Mr. Adewale Akande, said the 2027 issues should revolve around security, the economy, power, and infrastructure.
“Candidates who go beyond rhetoric and propaganda to proffer concrete ideas and practical ways to solving these challenges should be voted for,” he said.
Mrs. Temilola Akinade,Lagos Chairman of Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) said political differences must not degenerate into personal conflicts or intimidation.
“As INEC lifts the ban on presidential campaigns ahead of 2027, we must jettison any attempts to bring bitterness into electioneering.
“We must avoid bitter politics and campaigns this time around. No life should be lost because we want to retain or wrestle power.
“Life is sacred. Let us compete with ideas, not violence; with policies, not insults; and with respect, not confrontation,” she said.
She urged parties to take responsibility for the conduct of their supporters.
Also, a former two-term Lagos lawmaker, Mr. Jude Idimogu, said INEC must sanction politicians who flout guidelines on issue-based campaigning in order to sanitise the atmosphere.
“It is strictly campaigns, not name-calling. Parties and candidates should tell the people what they will do better if elected and the benefits people will derive if supported.
“INEC should be very strict on this to prevent name-calling, and if possible, penalise any party that flouts this decorum,” he said.
He added that security agencies should also be tough on anyone encouraging violence during the campaigns and beyond.
Idimogu said whatever transpired at campaign grounds would signal what to expect during the elections proper.
NAN reports that the 2027 campaigns will provide an opportunity to assess whether Nigeria’s political actors can combine vigorous competition with tolerance, sportsmanship, and respect for opposing views.
The media, civil society organisations, security agencies, traditional institutions, and the electorate are all expected to play their respective roles in promoting issue-based campaigns and peaceful participation.
As the country counts down to election day, the choice before politicians and voters is stark: a season of ideas and engagement, or another season of division and violence.
