General News
In Independence Message, Bamidele Calls for Peaceful Conduct of Election Campaigns
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 provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026 and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).
Bamidele, also the Chairman of the South-West Caucus in the National Assembly, said the peaceful and orderly conduct of political campaigns aligns with the shared vision of Nigeria’s founding fathers to build a united, democratic and prosperous federation that serves as a leading voice for Black people.
He stated this in a statement by his Directorate of Media and Public Affairs on Thursday to commemorate Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary, urging all political actors to shun incendiary comments and hate speech capable of undermining the seamless 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 confines of extant laws.
He noted that 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.
He further noted that 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 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.”
Directorate of Media and Public Affairs,
Office of the Leader of the Senate,
Federal Republic of Nigeria.
1st October 2026.