RismadarVoice Reporters, September 2, 2026
The Nigeria Police Force and the National Peace Committee, led by former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.), have intensified measures to contain growing political tension and prevent inflammatory rhetoric as activities ahead of the 2027 general elections gather pace.
The police are investigating alleged inciting remarks attributed to 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, representing Osun East Senatorial District.
The Peace Committee, meanwhile, has activated a situation room and an Electoral Offences Tracking System to monitor violations of the political accord, electoral laws and other conduct that could undermine the credibility and peaceful conduct of the elections.
The moves followed a series of controversial statements and reported violent incidents that have raised concerns over possible intimidation and political violence as parties intensify their mobilisation for 2027.
Shekwolo recently came under criticism after a viral video showed him warning residents who did not support the All Progressives Congress to leave the area council ahead of the elections.
Shortly after the incident, suspected thugs armed with cutlasses reportedly disrupted an Accord Party gathering in Kuje, Abuja. The attackers allegedly chased away participants, destroyed campaign materials and furniture, and injured at least one person.
Fadahunsi also attracted criticism following the circulation of a video in which he allegedly threatened members of the Accord Party in Ilesa, Osun State, during heightened political tensions surrounding the state’s recent governorship election.
Buba was similarly accused of making threats against residents who refused to support the APC in the 2027 elections.
The developments have heightened concerns about the role of intimidation, hate speech and violence in the emerging political contest.
The opposition Peoples Democratic Party accused the ruling APC of creating an atmosphere of fear ahead of the 2027 elections.
PDP National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, alleged that the ruling party was concerned that a free and credible election could produce an outcome unfavourable to it.
He argued that the alleged threats were intended to intimidate voters, discourage participation and influence electoral outcomes.
The National Democratic Congress also accused the government of actions and statements capable of increasing political tension. Its National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, described democracy as being under pressure and called on security agencies and the international community to protect the electoral process.
Director urged Nigerians not to be intimidated, stressing that citizens should participate fully in the elections and exercise their right to vote.
Similarly, Action Democratic Party National Chairman, Yabagi Sani, warned political actors against actions that could trigger disorder.
Sani noted that elections naturally generate anxiety over issues such as security, rigging, vote-buying and the abuse of incumbency, but cautioned that political actors must avoid actions capable of threatening lives and property.
The APC rejected allegations that it was recruiting individuals to cause violence or destabilise the electoral process.
The party’s Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, said allegations without evidence should not be treated as facts.
Ibrahim questioned the identities of some of those making accusations against the party, alleging that individuals could disguise themselves as APC supporters in an attempt to damage the party’s reputation.
He also argued that it would make little sense for a ruling party seeking to retain power to deliberately create anarchy that could undermine the system it controls.
The National Peace Committee has begun monitoring alleged breaches of the political accord signed by political actors, while the police are investigating incidents linked to the agreement.
The committee’s Head of Secretariat, Fr. Atta Barkindo, said it had established a situation room and an Electoral Offences Tracking System to document both violent and non-violent violations.
According to him, the monitoring covers political parties, candidates, supporters, stakeholders and spokespersons.
Barkindo disclosed that the committee had also documented statements made by presidential candidates at the recent Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association.
He said the records would be forwarded to the Independent National Electoral Commission and the police because the Peace Committee does not have the constitutional authority to prosecute or sanction offenders.
He also disclosed that the committee was advocating the creation of an Electoral Offences Commission by the National Assembly.
Barkindo called on the media to promote issue-based political campaigns, urging candidates to focus public debate on policies and issues affecting Nigerians.
An INEC official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the commission could not comment on the allegations because they were security matters.
The official, however, stressed that political parties and stakeholders were expected to comply with campaign regulations and guidelines.
The police confirmed that investigations were ongoing into the alleged comments attributed to Fadahunsi, Shekwolo and Buba.
Force spokesperson, Ani Iniedu, said inciting statements, particularly those capable of influencing the electoral process, could constitute a criminal offence.
He confirmed that Fadahunsi had been questioned over his alleged threat against Accord Party members.
Iniedu said the police would continue to enforce the law regardless of the political status of those involved, adding that the outcomes of the investigations would be made public.
He also disclosed that 154 suspects arrested during the August 15 Osun State governorship election remained under investigation.
The police urged members of the public to cooperate with investigators by providing evidence and statements that could support prosecution.
Iniedu identified the reluctance of witnesses to come forward as one of the major challenges confronting the prosecution of electoral offences.
Meanwhile, the Council of the Wise of the Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development has urged presidential candidates in the 2027 elections to avoid hate speech, inflammatory comments and violence.
The council, chaired by former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, made the call during an advocacy engagement with Peoples Redemption Party presidential candidate and former Cross River State Governor, Donald Duke, in Abuja.
Ariwoola said Nigeria’s previous elections had been affected by violence, hate speech, vote-buying, rigging and other electoral malpractices.
He urged presidential candidates and their supporters to respect electoral laws and promote campaigns centred on policies and solutions to the country’s challenges.
The former CJN specifically advised Duke to ensure that his campaign was peaceful and free from inflammatory rhetoric, while also encouraging members of the PRP to comply with electoral regulations.
Duke assured the council that he and his party would conduct themselves within the law and would not resort to violence or confrontation, even when faced with difficulties during the electoral process.
The former governor, however, expressed concern that Nigerian politics had increasingly become a “do-or-die affair,” attributing the trend partly to the treatment of politics as an occupation rather than a form of public service.
He said unemployment, economic hardship and other social challenges had contributed to the growing attraction to political positions.
