Nigeria @66: No ambition worth setting Nigeria ablaze, Bamidele warns politicians

Nigeria's Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, has cautioned politicians against fiery language and actions that could jeopardize Nigeria's peace prior to the 2027 general elections. As the Chairman of the South-West Caucus in the National Assembly, Bamidele made these remarks in a statement issued in Abuja to mark the country's 66th Independence Anniversary.

While acknowledging the right of political actors to exercise their rights, Bamidele emphasized that these rights must be upheld within the bounds of the law. He warned that political freedom does not permit hate speech, inflammatory statements, or activities that could incite political unrest and ethnic-religious violence before, during, and after the elections.

"No ambition is worth setting the nation ablaze," Bamidele stressed. He advised that political parties and candidates must conduct their campaigns within the legal framework established by the Electoral Act 2026 and the 1999 Constitution, as amended. The warning comes as political parties and candidates ramp up preparations for the 2027 elections, amid reports of intimidation and the presence of political thugs in various parts of the country, raising concerns about the upcoming elections.

Bamidele urged political actors to prioritize national unity and democratic stability over personal and partisan ambitions, emphasizing that Nigeria's 66 years of independence should serve as a reminder for leaders to safeguard the country's unity and democratic institutions while seeking electoral mandates.