2027: Bamidele warns politicians against hate speech, violence

The Senate Leader of Nigeria, Opeyemi Bamidele, has issued a strong warning to politicians against engaging in hate speech and other actions that could incite violence ahead of the 2027 general elections. As the Chairman of the South-West Caucus in the National Assembly, Bamidele emphasized that political parties and their candidates must conduct their campaigns peacefully and in compliance with the Electoral Act 2026 and the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

In a statement released on Thursday to mark Nigeria's 66th Independence Anniversary, Bamidele highlighted that while political actors have the right to exercise their political rights, these rights must be exercised within the boundaries of the law. He cautioned that political freedom does not encompass hate speech, inflammatory comments, or actions that could spark political unrest and ethno-religious violence before, during, and after the elections.

Bamidele stressed that the pursuit of political ambitions should be guided by electoral contest rules and not the "rules of the jungle". He urged political parties and candidates to prioritize national unity and democratic stability over personal and partisan ambitions, reminding them that Nigeria's 66 years of independence should serve as a reminder of the importance of protecting the country's unity and democratic institutions as they vie for electoral mandates.