2027: Organisation Launches Campaign against Electoral Violence

In 2027, a cultural organisation and social enterprise called Unchained Vibes Africa (UVA) initiated a campaign to ensure a peaceful and free election. This campaign, called "No Be War", involves the release of an anthem titled "No Be War" and an audio track called "Your Choice". The campaign's goal is to prevent violence and rancour during the 2027 general elections, especially the presidential poll.

UVA's founder and director, Ayodele Ganiu, warned politicians, religious leaders, and other stakeholders against turning the election into a "war" and urged them to adhere to the rules and maintain peaceful conduct. He criticised the use of divisive and harmful political rhetoric, which could lead to religious, ethnic, political, and sectarian violence.

Ganiu also revealed that the campaign's audio track is an Afrobeats-R&B song aimed at countering political hate speech and toxic narratives. The campaign's visuals will be introduced in a short film featuring Nollywood actors Yemi Solade, Tunji Sotimirin, Sam Uche Anyamele, and Dr Pure.

During the launch, various clips of harmful and inciting messages from politicians, Islamic clerics, and pastors in Nigeria were shown, highlighting the threat to national cohesion due to unguarded political rhetoric. UVA decided to use music and storytelling to reclaim the civic narrative from those spreading divisive political rhetoric and inflammatory comments ahead of the 2027 polls.

Ganiu expressed concern over the polarisation from religious leaders, some of whom are using religion to divide citizens, demanding Muslim-Muslim tickets and preaching extreme rhetoric of pre-emptive subjugation. Similarly, Christian clerics were replacing civic duty with sectarian loyalty and asserting from the pulpit that non-participation or voting against the Church amounts to 'voting for Satan'.

UVA believes that by using music, narrative, and storytelling, they can reclaim the civic narrative and promote national harmony during the upcoming elections.