The Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, has charged political parties and their candidates to conduct their campaigns in an orderly and peaceful manner in strict compliance with the Electoral Act, 2026 and the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
Bamidele, who is also Chairman of the South-West Caucus in the National Assembly, said peaceful and orderly campaigns align with the vision of Nigeria’s founding fathers to build a united, democratic and prosperous federation that serves as a leading voice for Black people globally.
He made the call on Thursday in a statement by his Directorate of Media and Public Affairs to commemorate Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.
He urged political actors to shun incendiary comments and hate speech capable of undermining the smooth conduct of the 2027 general elections.
In his Independence message, Bamidele acknowledged the right of every political actor to exercise their political rights, but stressed that such rights must be exercised within the ambit of extant laws.
He said the exercise of such rights does not extend to hate speech or inflammatory statements capable of triggering political unrest and ethno-religious violence before, during and after the electoral process.
“The exercise of political rights at this defining moment should be guided by the rules of the electoral contest and not by the rules of the jungle. While every aspiration is legitimate in a democracy, it should be pursued with decorum, patriotism and utmost restraint,” he said.
Bamidele added: “No ambition is worth setting the nation ablaze. As we mark our 66th anniversary of political freedom and prepare for the 2027 elections, political parties and their candidates must conduct their activities within the ambit of the law.
“This is consistent with the vision of our founding fathers to build a united, democratic and prosperous federation that would serve as a leading voice for Black people and the African continent globally. This vision must not be sacrificed on the altar of pedestrian politics.
“Nigeria is our collective heritage. She is greater than the political ambition of any party or candidate. Our activities must be conducted to preserve our collective heritage and not destroy what we have sustainably built.
“As political parties and their candidates campaign across the states of the federation and unveil their agenda for the future of our fatherland, such agenda must align with the wishes and aspirations of our founding fathers.”
