2027: Journalists ask politicians to prioritize tolerance, issue-based campaigns

From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

The Network of Peace Journalists (NPJ) has called on Nigerian politicians and aspirants to make peace, tolerance, and national unity the foundation of their campaigns ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement released on Sunday, NPJ team leader Ibrahima Yakubu emphasized that the growing political activity ahead of the elections requires maturity and responsibility from politicians and their supporters.
He urged them to avoid hate speech, inflammatory statements, misinformation, and other types of political rhetoric that could incite violence across the country.
Yakubu advised political aspirants to pursue their goals through peaceful, issue-focused campaigns rather than attacking opponents. “Politicians have a responsibility to ensure that their campaigns do not deepen existing ethnic, religious, regional, or political divisions in the country,” he said.
He added that campaigns should focus on issues affecting Nigerians’ well-being, including insecurity, unemployment, poverty, education, healthcare, agriculture, economic development, and good governance.
Yakubu emphasized that political differences should not cause Nigerians to turn on one another. “Politicians will come and go, but the country and its people will remain,” he stated.
The NPJ leader called on political parties, candidates, and supporters to reject violence and promote dialogue, tolerance, and peaceful competition throughout the electoral process.
He also warned against using social media to spread fake news, provocative messages, threats, and unverified information, noting that such actions could escalate tensions and undermine peaceful elections.
Furthermore, Yakubu urged political parties to educate and discipline their supporters and encouraged candidates to accept election results that comply with the law, seeking redress through legitimate channels when necessary.
He appealed to journalists and media outlets to prioritize peace journalism in their coverage, emphasizing balanced reporting, fact-checking, and responsible handling of political statements.
The NPJ also called on religious leaders, traditional authorities, civil society groups, youth organizations, and other stakeholders to support initiatives to prevent election-related violence and foster peaceful coexistence.
Yakubu assured that the Network of Peace Journalists will continue to use the media as a platform to promote peace, tolerance, dialogue, and national unity before, during, and after the 2027 elections.
He urged Nigerians to reject political violence and hold politicians accountable for messages and actions that threaten peace and stability.
“Political competition should never be a reason for Nigerians to hate or fight each other. We must remember that after every election, we will continue to live together as citizens of the same country,” he said.
The network reaffirmed its commitment to collaborating with journalists, media organizations, government bodies, civil society groups, and other stakeholders to promote peaceful political participation and support violence-free elections in 2027.