Nigerian Senate President Godswill Akpabio has urged politicians to conduct their campaigns with honour and avoid violence and intimidation as the 2027 general elections approach. In his welcome address as the Senate resumed plenary after its two-month recess, Akpabio declared that no electoral victory was worth the life of any Nigerian. He stressed that politicians had a responsibility to present their competing visions to Nigerians while recognising that the country would remain after the elections.
Akpabio emphasised that candidates seeking elective offices did not have to agree on every issue, but they should avoid actions capable of setting communities against one another on the basis of ethnicity, religion or regional identity. He said, "Those who seek office need not see eye to eye in order to walk hand in hand as Nigerians." Akpabio added that politicians should contend without setting community against community, faith against faith or one part of their Republic against another.
The Senate President charged senators to maintain the dignity of the National Assembly throughout the campaign season, stressing that lawmakers had a constitutional responsibility to continue serving Nigerians irrespective of their political affiliations. He said the Senate, comprising lawmakers from different political parties, regions and backgrounds, should demonstrate that political differences could coexist with national unity.
Akpabio also expressed concern over the security situation in the country, particularly the abduction of Nigerians during the legislative recess. He said families had continued to wait anxiously for loved ones taken by armed men in Marisa, Dekera Mosque and other parts of the country, while several communities had remained under the threat of violence.
The Senate has fixed a security summit for October 12 and adjourned plenary to October 13. Akpabio said the summit was necessary to address the country's security challenges. He urged politicians to reject violence and intimidation, and resist the falsehoods that travel swiftly and leave distrust in their wake.
Akpabio stressed that the commencement of campaigns for the 2027 elections placed a responsibility on political actors to present their competing visions to Nigerians. He said every candidate should make a case and answer hard questions, and every citizen should be free to decide. The Senate President added that no electoral prize was worth a Nigerian life, and no victory deserved celebration if it left the nation wounded.
The Senate President's call for a peaceful and issue-based campaign season comes as politicians begin to intensify their campaigns for the 2027 general elections. Key points from Akpabio's address include:
Key points
- No electoral victory is worth the life of any Nigerian.
- Politicians must conduct their campaigns with honour and avoid violence and intimidation.
- The Senate will hold a security summit on October 12 to address the country's security challenges.
