2027 Elections: Let’s Vote Freely, Not Under Threat

Campaigning for the 2027 general elections has kicked off. Candidates are moving around the country to seek votes. This also gives political parties a chance to strengthen their support and try to win over areas where their opponents are strong.

But some fake democrats have started using harassment and threats in this election process. They want people to vote only for their parties or face serious consequences. This is a worrying trend that law enforcement agencies must address.

In Ebonyi State, Governor Francis Nwifuru threatened to remove any local government chairperson who does not ensure victory for the All Progressives Congress (APC). In a primary school in the state, a federal lawmaker forced pupils to sing President Bola Tinubu’s political anthem, “Tinubu, On Your Mandate We Shall Stand,” while handing out exercise books and pencils. This behavior is completely unacceptable.

While swearing in 13 local government area chairpersons in September, the governor said, “As a local government chairman, if you like, go and sleep so that another person will take over your house. You will not stop us (APC) from winning. But when we win, we will remove you.” His words show a lack of respect for the law and democracy. This kind of action is wrong.

According to the 1999 Constitution, the governor does not have the authority to remove any local government chairperson or manipulate the system through councillors. His actions show that local councils lack independence in his state. This should concern all Nigerians who want local governments to work effectively, as stated in the constitution.

Local councils were created to ensure governance reaches the grassroots. They should not be under the control of state governors. A Supreme Court ruling in July 2024 confirmed that local councils should receive their federal allocations directly, highlighting this point.

Sadly, the governor is not the only one acting inappropriately. In Borno State, a commissioner, Sainna Buba, responsible for Youths and Sports Development, threatened to flog anyone who does not vote for APC candidates in 2027. He said, “This government is our government; follow us and enjoy honey. As for those who refuse to follow us, they will be flogged.” This threat came during the inauguration of a Tinubu campaign support group in the state.

Such inflammatory statements are harmful to democracy. Kuje Council in Abuja is not the property of any political party. These kinds of messages create an environment of political intolerance, especially when democracy is weak.

Recently, Peter Obi, the candidate from the National Democratic Congress (NDC), faced violence when he visited Benue State. Hired thugs blocked him from moving around to meet communities affected by violence and killings.

This shameful act seemed to have government backing. It is shocking that thugs brandishing weapons stood in front of police officers, shouting that Mr Obi was not welcome, and nothing was done. Mr Obi left the state without achieving his goals.

The NDC wrote to the state Commissioner of Police, Cletus Nwadiogbu, about the visit. He informed the state governor, Hyacinth Alia, who had previously warned Mr Obi not to visit without permission. Public outrage led to the arrest of 46 suspects the following day. But we doubt their actual involvement. The police need to explain why they could not arrest any thugs during the incident. Their claim that they avoided using force when they had the chance sounds inadequate. The later arrests appear to be an attempt at damage control.

Let’s be clear: the right to move freely is a fundamental right under the 1999 Constitution, Section 41. This right can only be limited in specific cases of crime or investigation. None of these applied to Peter Obi. With the election campaign officially starting, the police and state authorities’ excuses become harder to justify.

PREMIUM TIMES has raised alarms about these threats to democracy. The police must act against those who threaten the 2027 general elections.

Beyond the recent interrogation of a senator who told APC members to kill Accord Party members in Osun State, and another who insisted on voting only for APC, actual prosecutions are still lacking.

These troublemakers can only be stopped by enforcing the law. The Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, must take action against these growing issues in our democracy.

Candidates should earn votes in elections through persuasion and sharing convincing plans to solve people's problems. Any other method is wrong and undermines the electoral process.