Nigeria Must Not Descend into Political Violence Ahead of 2027 Polls, Ubani Warns
Wale Igbintade Human rights lawyer, Monday Onyekachi Ubani, SAN, has warned Nigeria’s political class against escalating threats, intimidation and political intolerance ahead of the 2027 general election, saying the country
Human rights lawyer Monday Onyekachi Ubani, SAN has issued a stark warning to Nigeria's political leaders regarding the escalating threats, intimidation, and political intolerance in the run-up to the 2027 general election. In a statement titled "There Are Minimum Requirements: Nigeria Must Not Descend," Ubani expressed concern that the country's political environment was becoming increasingly unstable, with political competition increasingly giving way to threats, bullying, intimidation, and open hostility.
The lawyer emphasized that this troubling trend should alarm every Nigerian, stating that the political temperature was growing dangerously even before the 2027 campaign season had fully begun. He pointed to developments in Ebonyi State as early warning signs, citing reports that the governor had instructed newly sworn-in local government chairmen not to permit defeat in their constituencies.
Additionally, he mentioned a statement from one of the newly sworn-in chairmen, Eze Paul Ituma, who reportedly vowed to prevent anyone from "taking garri from his mouth" and pledged to take any necessary actions to secure victory for his party.
Ubani cautioned that whether such statements were merely political rhetoric or something more sinister, they should not be condoned or normalized in a democratic society. He also expressed worry over a reported incident involving the denial of entry to one of the presidential contenders into a state, which raised serious questions about the nation's tolerance for political opposition.
Ubani questioned whether the country was becoming so intolerant of political dissent that it was prepared to deny opponents even the basic freedom to campaign in different parts of the country.
He reminded the country of its troubled political past, citing Operation Wetie in the South-West during the First Republic as a grim reminder of the dangers of allowing political competition to degenerate into hatred and violence. Ubani also noted that previous elections, including those in 2011, 2015, 2019, and 2023, had been marred to varying degrees by violence, threats, intimidation, and loss of lives.
He urged the authorities responsible for governance in the affected state to provide a clear and convincing explanation for the incident.
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