The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, SAN, has issued a stern warning to Nigerians against resorting to violence, thuggery and other forms of lawlessness under the guise of protecting or defending their votes during the forthcoming 2027 general elections, stating that such actions will attract severe consequences from security agencies.
The Minister, who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and a prominent member of the All Progressives Congress, gave the warning while commenting on the need to ensure peaceful, credible, transparent and violence-free elections in the country, as the nation gradually approaches another crucial electoral cycle that will determine its leadership at the federal, state and local government levels.
According to Keyamo, any individual or group of persons who engages in violence, attacks fellow citizens, destroys electoral materials, snatches ballot boxes or takes up arms during the electoral process should be prepared to face dire and serious consequences, including decisive, lawful and professional action by security agencies deployed to maintain law and order across the country.
He explained that the Federal Government, in collaboration with all relevant security agencies, is fully prepared and committed to ensuring that the 2027 general elections are conducted in a peaceful, free, fair, credible and secure atmosphere, and will not tolerate any act or conduct capable of disrupting public peace, threatening lives and property or undermining the integrity of the electoral process.
The Minister stressed that while it is the constitutional and democratic right of every eligible Nigerian to vote, to protect his or her vote and to ensure that his or her vote counts, such right must be exercised strictly within the confines of the law and must not be used as an excuse or justification to perpetrate violence, cause mayhem or take the law into one’s own hands.
He noted that the Electoral Act 2022, as amended, and other extant laws of the federation have provided legitimate, lawful and institutional mechanisms through which aggrieved persons, political parties and candidates can seek redress if they feel their votes have been tampered with, rigged or manipulated, rather than resorting to self-help, jungle justice and extra-judicial actions that could lead to breakdown of law and order.
Keyamo stated that electoral violence has remained one of the most potent and recurring challenges confronting Nigeria’s democratic process and consolidation since the return to civil rule in 1999, often leading to loss of innocent lives, destruction of property worth millions of naira, voter apathy and general disillusionment with the democratic system, and therefore must be collectively condemned, rejected and avoided by all well-meaning citizens and stakeholders.
The Minister also took a swipe at some desperate and unpatriotic politicians who, according to him, have made it a habitual practice and political strategy to instigate, induce and push vulnerable young people and suspected thugs into election violence, ballot snatching and other forms of electoral malpractices for their selfish political gains and inordinate ambitions.
He accused such politicians of deliberately and wickedly using vulnerable and unemployed youths as tools, foot soldiers and cannon fodder for violence and electoral manipulation, while keeping their own biological children far away from danger and the theatre of violence by sending them abroad to school, live, work and enjoy safety and quality life in foreign countries.
According to Keyamo, it is hypocritical, insensitive, wicked and morally reprehensible for any politician, regardless of party affiliation or status, to incite young Nigerians to carry arms, attack opponents, disrupt elections and cause mayhem, while his own biological children are safely tucked away in the United Kingdom, United States, Canada and other foreign countries, enjoying quality education, security and protection from the same violence they sponsor at home.
He described such politicians as selfish, irresponsible, unpatriotic and enemies of the Nigerian youth and the country’s democracy, who do not mean well for the country and its teeming youth population, and urged Nigerian youths to be wise, vigilant, discerning and refuse to be used as political thugs, ballot snatchers and agents of destruction and destabilisation by desperate politicians who do not care about their future.
The Minister therefore called on Nigerian youths in particular, who constitute the largest demographic group in the country, to shun all forms of financial inducement, political manipulation and deceitful promises to engage in violence during the 2027 elections and to rather channel their energies, creativity and strength into positive, productive, lawful and developmental ventures that will promote peace, unity, progress and national development.
He urged Nigerians across all political divides to avoid any form of confrontation, altercation or clash with security operatives deployed to maintain peace, law and order during the elections, warning that anyone who confronts, attacks, obstructs or attempts to disarm security agencies in the discharge of their lawful duties could face severe and lawful consequences in accordance with the laws of the land.
Keyamo emphasized that security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army, Department of State Services, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and other sister security agencies, will be fully on ground during the elections to protect lives and property, safeguard electoral materials and ensure that the electoral process is not hijacked, compromised or truncated by criminal elements, political miscreants and enemies of democracy.
He assured Nigerians that the security agencies have been given clear, unambiguous and professional directives to be civil, impartial, non-partisan, humane and professional in their conduct and operations during the elections, but will not hesitate to deal decisively, lawfully and firmly with anyone or group of persons who attempts to cause mayhem, snatch ballot boxes, intimidate voters or disrupt the electoral process in any part of the country.
The Minister reiterated that no one, no matter how highly placed or politically connected, is above the law, and that the Federal Government under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is fully committed and determined to ensuring that the 2027 general elections are not only peaceful, credible and transparent, but also reflect the true, genuine and freely expressed will of the Nigerian people without fear, intimidation or coercion.
He further advised political parties, candidates, their supporters and other political actors to conduct their campaigns and electioneering activities in a peaceful, issue-based, decorous, mature and responsible manner, devoid of hate speech, incitement, ethnic profiling, religious bigotry, personal attacks and other inflammatory statements and actions capable of heating up the polity and plunging the country into crisis.
Keyamo noted that democracy thrives better, grows faster and is more sustainable in an atmosphere of peace, tolerance, mutual respect, dialogue and adherence to the rule of law, and therefore all stakeholders, including politicians, voters, security agencies, electoral umpire and civil society, must play by the rules and contribute their quota to the deepening of Nigeria’s democratic culture, values and tradition.
He called on traditional rulers, religious leaders, community leaders, civil society organisations, youth groups, women organisations, professional bodies and other critical stakeholders to join hands with the government and the Independent National Electoral Commission in sensitising, educating and mobilising Nigerians on the need for peaceful elections and the grave dangers of electoral violence to national unity, peace, stability and development.
The Minister expressed strong optimism and confidence that with collective efforts, sustained awareness, commitment and patriotism from all stakeholders, the 2027 general elections will be a marked improvement over previous elections in the country in terms of peace, credibility, transparency, voter turnout and overall conduct, and will be adjudged as one of the best elections in Nigeria’s history.
Meanwhile, political observers, analysts and commentators have commended the Minister for his timely, courageous and patriotic warning, describing it as a necessary, proactive and preventive measure to stem the tide of electoral violence and thuggery that has often characterised and marred elections in the country since independence.
They noted that many young Nigerians, with bright futures, have lost their lives, sustained life-threatening injuries or ended up in prison in previous elections as a result of being used as political thugs and agents of violence by selfish politicians, and therefore such warnings should be taken seriously by all, particularly the youth who are often the victims of such manipulations.
They also called on security agencies to be proactive, impartial, professional, non-partisan and firm in the discharge of their duties during the elections, and to ensure that anyone found culpable of electoral violence, regardless of political party affiliation, social status or financial influence, is arrested, investigated and made to face the full wrath of the law to serve as deterrent to others.
In conclusion, the Minister urged Nigerians to see the 2027 general elections as a golden opportunity and a defining moment to deepen democracy, strengthen national unity, promote good governance and choose competent, credible and patriotic leaders who will move the country forward in all ramifications, and therefore must not allow violence, thuggery, ballot snatching and other anti-democratic and criminal acts to undermine or derail the process.
