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<p>Nigeria Forward, a national socio-political group, has urged politicians and political parties participating in the 2027 general elections to focus on issue-based campaigns and refrain from hate speech, personality attacks and dangerous rhetoric capable of threatening national unity and peaceful coexistence.</p><div class="FZm7l5O4" style="clear:both;float:left;width:100%;margin:0 0 20px 0;"><script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>

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<p>In a press release issued on Monday, October 12, 2026, the group called on political candidates, parties and other stakeholders to conduct their campaigns responsibly by prioritising policies, manifestoes and programmes that address the needs of Nigerians.</p>
<p>The group&#8217;s position was contained in a statement issued by its Directorate of Communications and Strategy in response to the commencement of public political campaigns ahead of the 2027 general elections.</p>
<p>According to Nigeria Forward, the growing tendency among some political stakeholders to engage in personal attacks rather than discuss policies and governance issues could undermine peaceful coexistence and deepen divisions across the country.</p><div class="g6rOI8pT" style="clear:both;float:left;width:100%;margin:0 0 20px 0;"><script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>

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<p>The organisation expressed concern over what it described as campaigns of calumny, character assassination and other negative political practices, warning that such tendencies could turn the political environment into an arena for personality clashes rather than a platform for exchanging ideas.</p>
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<p>Nigeria Forward maintained that election campaigns should provide voters with an opportunity to assess candidates based on their policies, proposed programmes, leadership priorities and capacity to address the country&#8217;s challenges.</p>
<p>The group also criticised the alleged abuse of the media space, particularly digital platforms, which it said some political actors and groups use to spread fake news, hate speech and misinformation in pursuit of political advantage.</p>
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<p>It called on politicians and their supporters to exercise restraint in their use of social media and other communication channels, stressing that the dissemination of misleading information could heighten tensions and weaken public trust during the electioneering period.</p>
<p>While acknowledging that the pursuit of political power is a legitimate feature of democracy, Nigeria Forward said political ambitions should be pursued with decency, decorum, mutual respect, responsibility and patriotism.</p>
<p>The organisation urged Nigerian politicians to draw lessons from established democracies where, according to the group, election campaigns focus on issues, manifestoes, policies and programmes intended to improve the welfare of the electorate.</p>
<p>“Our politicians must take a cue from their contemporaries in the advanced and developed democracies, where electioneering campaigns are based on issues, manifestoes, policies and programmes that are intended to be implemented for the benefit of the electorates,” the statement said.</p>
<p>Nigeria Forward further called on political leaders to demonstrate a sense of responsibility and patriotism in their conduct as the country approaches the 2027 elections.</p>
<p>The group said responsible political engagement would encourage voters to embrace patriotism and civic responsibility, while placing national unity, peace and development above partisan interests.</p>
<p>“Our politicians must show sense of responsibility and patriotism in their approach towards the 2027 electioneering campaign activities, thereby setting the pace and tune for a more responsive and patriotic electorates that are alive to their responsibility of being patriotic and committed citizens whose focus is national unity, peace and development,” the statement added.</p>
<p>The organisation also appealed to individuals, corporate organisations, civil society groups and other well-meaning Nigerians to hold politicians accountable for their public statements and actions, particularly where such conduct could promote division among citizens.</p>
<p>According to Nigeria Forward, sustained public scrutiny of political rhetoric and campaign activities would help promote responsible political participation and discourage conduct capable of threatening national cohesion ahead of the elections.</p>
<p>The group said all stakeholders had a responsibility to contribute to a peaceful electoral environment by encouraging issue-based debates and rejecting inflammatory statements that could undermine democratic engagement.</p>
<p>It further expressed the hope that greater accountability and responsible campaigning would contribute to the emergence of leaders committed to democratic principles, national unity and peaceful coexistence.</p>
<p>The statement was signed by Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, PhD, Co-Convener of Nigeria Forward.</p>
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