"It's amazing how much panic one honest man can spread among a multitude of hypocrites"- Thomas Sowell.
As Nigeria prepares for Presidential elections in January 2027, one of the popular candidates, H. E . Peter Obi is systematically being bullied with political violence by the ruling party to undermine his chances of participating in the elections. In July 2025, Governor Monday Okpebholo surprised the nation by warning former Labour Party Presidential candidate, H.E. Peter Obi against visiting his Edo State for political events and declared that anything that happened to him, "he will take it". Barely seven months after such threatening remarks, suspected political thugs attacked H.E. Peter Obi and his party supporters in Benin City, the Edo State Capital during a pre-election political engagement. According to Punch Newspaper, H.E. Peter Obi and his political associates escaped unhurt, but their vehicles were riddled with bullets, windshields smashed. the ADC's party leader in Edo State, Odigie-Oyegun's gate reportedly 'bore the scars of gunfire'. The ADC secretariat in the state was left in disarray-"furniture overturned, injuries claimed, chaos reigning". Similarly, the ruling party Governors of Benue and Akwa-Ibom states had also threatened H. E. Peter Obi against visiting their states without their permission for political events vowing not to guarantee his safety. Last week, H.E. Peter Obi told his supporters in a political event that "the ruling federal government of Nigeria does not want him to be a candidate of any political party in Nigeria", this should be a huge cause for concern. Lawful contestation is inalienable right, not the prerogative of the incumbent. Elections are crucial to achieving better democratic governance and contestation is a very essential part of this process, so seeking to undermine it or diminish wide range of individuals, groups and political parties from contesting elections is tyrannical and a recipe for disaster. Elections provide the only opportunity for citizens to choose effective leadership in a democracy by guaranteeing- 'contestation, deliberation, participation and electoral justice'.
Furthermore, the former National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, (ADC), Chief, Ralph Nwosu, has also accused President Bola Tinubu's administration of trying to use Government institutions as weapons against opposition. He said this in an interview with Arise TV News on Thursday 26 February 2026. He called for responsible governance, prioritizing citizens' welfare and a halt to unnecessary political conflict, noting that the African Democratic Congress-ADC is actively 'avoiding causing tension in the country'. The future of Nigeria depends on the next elections. Today, the challenge of supporting democracy and elections has increased around the world, so key stakeholders must become vigilant, resist and pressure incumbents who seek to destabilise their countries by using political violence to make future electoral victories easier. Uche Okeke. London.
