2027 Campaigns: Police, Abdulsalami Panel Move To Curb Rising Tension
The Nigeria Police Force and the National Peace Committee led by former military Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.), have stepped up efforts to contain rising political tension and alleged inciting comments as campaigns for the 2027 general elections gather momentum.
The police have commenced investigations into controversial remarks allegedly made by the Borno State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Sainna Buba; the Chairman of Kuje Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory, Samuel Shekwolo; and Senator Francis Fadahunsi, representing Osun East Senatorial District.
At the same time, the Peace Committee has activated a situation room and an Electoral Offences Tracking System to monitor campaigns, alleged breaches of the political accord and other conduct capable of undermining the electoral process.
The developments followed a series of controversial statements and reported incidents that have heightened fears of intimidation and violence as political parties intensify mobilisation for the 2027 polls.
Last week, Shekwolo sparked public outrage after a viral video showed him warning residents opposed to the All Progressives Congress to leave the council ahead of the elections.
“I’ve said in my area council, it is either you are doing APC or leave the area council. I am not hiding it. I’m saying it with all confidence,” Shekwolo said.
Days after Shekwolo’s warning, thugs armed with cutlasses reportedly attacked an Accord Party political gathering in Kuje, Abuja, on Sunday. The attackers allegedly chased participants away, destroyed campaign materials and furniture, and injured at least one person.
Similarly, Fadahunsi came under criticism after another viral video showed him threatening members of the Accord Party in Ilesa, Osun State, amid heightened political tension before last month’s governorship election.
Fadahunsi, an APC member, spoke in Yoruba while addressing supporters during a protest at the palace of the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland over what he described as the incessant killing of APC members in the area.
He said, “The cap they wear – it is yellow fever cap, it is the cap of an animal.
“It is animal that kills. Have you ever heard that APC killed anyone? Are those being killed not your people? So, we have come to tell you, up till the day of the election, if we see them, it is killing.”
His comments came a day after three people were killed in a shooting in the Imo area of Ilesa, Osun State, amid heightened political tension ahead of the August 15 governorship election. The circumstances surrounding the killings, however, remained disputed.
Buba also came under fire after he reportedly threatened to flog and cut off the fingers of residents who refused to support the APC in the 2027 election.
The incidents have intensified concerns over the potential use of threats, intimidation and violence in the electoral process, prompting increased scrutiny by security and peace-building institutions.
On Tuesday, opposition parties accused the APC-led government of heightening political tension, while the ruling party challenged them to provide evidence to support the allegations.
The Tanimu Turaki (SAN)-backed Peoples Democratic Party National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong said that the APC was aware that a free, fair and credible election could produce an outcome undesirable to the ruling party.
He alleged that threats were being issued to intimidate voters and discourage them from exercising their franchise.
The National Democratic Congress National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, also accused President Bola Tinubu of actions and utterances capable of heightening political tension, insisting that Nigerians could not be cowed by threats or intimidation.
Similarly, the National Chairman of the Action Democratic Party, Yabagi Sani, warned the APC and other political actors against actions that could create confusion, disorder or anarchy during the election period.
However, the APC Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, dismissed allegations that the ruling party was desperate or recruiting people to cause mayhem.
He challenged the accusers to provide evidence, arguing that the APC had no reason to create chaos while in power and seeking to retain it through the delivery of democratic dividends to Nigerians.
Reacting, the PDP accused the APC of fearing a free, fair and credible election and alleged that the threats were aimed at intimidating voters and discouraging turnout.
Ememobong said the incidents formed part of a wider strategy and reflected what he described as an early sign of failure by the ruling party.
He stated, “The attacks and threats are clear indication of the rejection that they are already aware of. A free, fair and credible election will produce a result that will be undesirable to them, which is why they are now trying to force the people to do what they know is against the tide.
“The current tide is against them, and so they know that they are swimming against the tide, which is why they are issuing threats well in advance and undertaking activities that will either scare people from coming to vote or will force people to vote against the tide of the moment.
“And so, it is a clear sign of an early failure, and that is why you see that it is a strategy. It is not isolated cases. These are things that are happening everywhere at the same time, with the same intensity, and all of them have the same underlying issue: the threats that are being issued by these people. So, it is clear that they know that the election is theirs to lose.
“Well, that is why we are coming together to expand the platform under which everybody who is opposed to the system can exercise their franchise. So, in that way, we are going to have a lot of joint activities where we are not just doing PDP, doing ADC, doing NDC, but we are all together opposing a common enemy.”
The NDC National Publicity Secretary said democracy was under siege in Nigeria, condemning the alleged use of violence and undemocratic tactics to intimidate and silence opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Director called on security agencies and the international community to protect the democratic process, urging Nigerians to participate fully in the election and freely exercise their right to vote.
He stated, “The NDC is concern with the manifestation of violence. Obviously, democracy is under siege in Nigeria, and this is clear from the statement of the President who said that in politics, all is fair. All is fair in politics, so it means violence, using undemocratic means to intimidate and cow the opposition, is fair. So, by that statement, they threaten members of his party or intimidate them and take possible members of the opposition in a bid to realise their nefarious and burgeoning ambition of winning the 2027 general election. It is so unfortunate.
“We are calling on the Nigerian security agencies to please take the responsibility to ensure that this is addressed. We are calling on the international community and society to help sustain democracy in Nigeria and ensure that these negative manifestations of anti-democratic forces are terminated and put under control.
“The voters in Nigeria and the electorate in general should not be intimidated. They must be citizens of Nigeria. It is not just enough to call yourself a citizen; you must be a civilised citizen, and that is part of your right to vote. So, we must vote and participate in the process to change any government that we don’t want.
“These people are a minority. Nigerians and the Nigerian masses are larger than them, and they should be committed to ensuring a free and fair election. They should participate in the forthcoming election by casting their votes without fear or intimidation.”
On its part, ADP National Chairman, Yabagi Sani, cautioned that while the government had the power of incumbency, the opposition could also react negatively to actions it considered threatening to the electoral process.
He stated, “Well, you know, every national election, not only in Nigeria, comes with some level of anxiety over issues such as the safety of lives and property, rigging, intimidation, and the high-handedness that can sometimes come with the power of incumbency. So, people naturally get worked up when such an important exercise is approaching.
“But the cases you mentioned, such as the alleged maltreatment of people at the mission somewhere in the North, and also here, I don’t know whether they are isolated cases. If they are not, and they are connected to the upcoming election, then it is unfortunate because that will not go well for anyone.
“If the government has the power of incumbency and can do and undo, it should also remember that the opposition has the power to, I wouldn’t say cause destruction, but to react negatively. So, they must be wary of that. People should not, on account of elections, begin to create problems that could affect lives and property.”
In response, the All Progressives Congress dismissed allegations that it was recruiting people to cause mayhem, insisting that the claims were unsupported by evidence.
APC Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, also questioned the identities of those making the allegations, accusing some individuals of posing as party members to damage the APC’s image and credibility.
He stated, “Any allegation that does not come with evidence remains an allegation, and it will be treated as an allegation until that proof is provided. The evidence that we are desperate is not there. The evidence that we are recruiting people to cause mayhem is not there. Why should we, when we are in control? Why should we, when we are enjoying support and increasing support on a daily basis, create confusion or chaos in the system that will lead to disorder or anarchy, when we are the ones in power and we want to continue being in power so that we will keep giving democratic dividends to the people?
“You see, sometimes I question the evidence, the proof, and the authority to authenticate the identity of the person making the allegations.
“One, some people make allegations in disguise when they are truly not real, genuine members of our party. Some people will disguise themselves; they will wear the robe of the party in power and make allegations with a view to robbing or bringing down the image or name of the party.
“But when you conduct a genuine investigation, you will find that they are not genuine members of the party until the identities of those people are really brought out and they are seen to be card-carrying members of our party.
“I don’t want to believe in what is being said. Why? There is just no logic. It beats common sense that a party in power will want to create anarchy. When there is anarchy, it means there will be no law and order. When there is no law and order, automatically, it means you lose control of the power you are enjoying.”
Meanwhile, the National Peace Committee has commenced monitoring alleged violations of the political accord among parties, while the police have begun investigating reported incidents linked to the agreement.
