OYO POLICE WARN POLITICIANS AGAINST TURNING 2027 ELECTION INTO WARFARE, DEMAND ISSUE-BASED CAMPAIGNS

By Iroyin Yoruba Television News Desk

The Oyo State Police Command has issued a strong warning to political leaders, candidates and supporters ahead of the 2027 general elections, urging them not to turn political disagreements into violence, threats or physical confrontation.

The warning came as political activities continue to gather momentum across Oyo State, with parties beginning to position themselves, aspirants mobilising supporters and disputes over nominations and party structures already generating heightened political tension in some parts of the state.

The Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, CP Olugbenga Abimbola, said political leaders must understand that their public statements can influence the behaviour of supporters, particularly young people who are often heavily involved in political campaigns and rallies.

He therefore called on politicians to abandon inflammatory rhetoric, personal attacks, ethnic or religious appeals and statements capable of provoking hostility.

According to the police, political competition should be about competing programmes, policies, competence, records and visions for the people rather than a struggle in which opponents are treated as enemies.

The warning was delivered on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, during a symposium on peaceful electoral conduct held at the Oyo State Police Command headquarters in Eleyele, Ibadan.

The programme was organised around the theme “Beyond Political Rhetoric: From Campaign to the Ballot – Promoting Peaceful Electoral Conduct in Oyo State.”

The police said the objective was to bring political stakeholders and security agencies together to discuss how potential violence could be prevented before, during and after the 2027 elections.

The development is particularly significant because Oyo is expected to witness a competitive political contest in 2027, with several political parties already making preparations for the governorship and other elective positions.

POLICE: VIOLENCE CAN START WITH WORDS

Speaking at the symposium, CP Abimbola warned that electoral violence does not always begin with physical attacks.

He explained that violence can start with provocative speeches, false accusations, reckless allegations, threats and inflammatory statements before eventually developing into physical clashes between rival supporters.

The Commissioner urged political actors to recognise the power of their words and the possible consequences of statements made at rallies, meetings, press conferences and on social media.

He particularly drew attention to young people, who frequently form the largest and most active component of political mobilisation.

Political parties often depend on youths to distribute campaign materials, organise rallies, mobilise crowds, communicate online and defend their preferred candidates.

The police concern is that the same energy can become dangerous if political leaders use provocative language or encourage supporters to view political opponents as enemies.

The command therefore appealed to political leaders to use their influence responsibly.

Rather than encouraging supporters to confront opponents, politicians were urged to encourage peaceful participation, lawful campaigning and respect for opposing political views.

The police position is that political disagreement is normal in a democracy, but disagreement must remain within the boundaries of the law.

The ballot box, rather than physical force, should determine which candidate receives the mandate of the electorate.

The Commissioner also warned against the use of ethnic and religious sentiments during campaigns.

Oyo State is culturally diverse, with people from different communities, religious backgrounds and political traditions living and working across Ibadan and the state's other towns and local government areas.

Political campaigns that deliberately exploit these differences, the police warned, could create tensions that extend beyond the election itself.

POLITICIANS URGED TO CAMPAIGN ON POLICIES

The police leadership called on political parties and candidates to make policies and programmes the centre of their campaigns.

Instead of concentrating on personal attacks, candidates were encouraged to explain what they intend to do about issues affecting residents.

Among the issues likely to dominate the 2027 political conversation are employment, education, healthcare, agriculture, infrastructure, security, transportation, youth development, local economic growth and the cost of living.

The police did not tell political parties what policies they should promote.

Rather, the emphasis was that political competition should allow voters to compare the programmes, experience and records of candidates before making their decisions.

Such an approach could also reduce the temperature of political campaigns.

When campaigns are based primarily on personalities, accusations and attacks, supporters can become emotionally attached to political figures and interpret criticism of a candidate as an attack on themselves.

However, when political competition focuses on policies and measurable programmes, voters have greater opportunity to compare alternatives.

The police therefore encouraged political actors to concentrate on issues that affect ordinary residents.

For many voters, the important questions will not simply be which politician has the largest crowd but what each candidate proposes to do differently and how those promises would be implemented.

POLITICAL SUPPORTERS ALSO HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY

The warning from the police was not directed only at candidates and senior political leaders.

Supporters were also urged to conduct themselves responsibly.

Political parties have large networks of supporters across the state, including ward leaders, youth groups, women groups, community organisers and social media activists.

These supporters play an important role in shaping the tone of political campaigns.

The police therefore urged party leaders to properly guide their supporters and prevent them from engaging in hate speech, threats, deliberate falsehoods or other forms of inflammatory communication.

This is particularly important in an era when political statements can spread rapidly through social media.

A statement made at a small political gathering can quickly be recorded on a mobile phone, uploaded to social media and viewed by thousands of people.

A provocative statement can therefore reach a much larger audience than the person who made it may have intended.

The police concern is that such statements can generate anger, retaliation and confrontation between supporters of rival political parties.

Political leaders were consequently reminded that they have a responsibility not only for their own behaviour but also for the conduct of those acting in their name.

POLICE PROMISE NEUTRALITY

Another important message from the symposium was the assurance that the police would remain professional and neutral.

CP Abimbola reaffirmed the command's commitment to providing equal protection for political parties, candidates and citizens.

The neutrality of security agencies is particularly important during elections because public confidence can be damaged if citizens believe that security personnel are favouring one political group over another.

The police therefore said that their responsibility would be to protect lives and property, maintain public order and enforce the law regardless of political affiliation.

At the same time, the Commissioner warned that neutrality should not be interpreted as tolerance for criminal conduct.

The command said it would not tolerate acts or statements deliberately designed to cause violence, threaten public peace or undermine the security of residents.

Where evidence of criminal conduct exists, the police said the law would take its course.

This position places responsibility on both politicians and their supporters to understand the difference between legitimate political expression and conduct that crosses the line into criminality.

SECURITY AGENCIES SEEK EARLY WARNING

The Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, DCP Ekanem Usen, also addressed the symposium.

He emphasised the importance of cooperation among political parties, candidates, security agencies, electoral officials and voters.

According to him, peaceful elections require stakeholders to work together rather than waiting until violence has already started before taking action.

This approach is based on early identification of threats.

If political disputes, threats or provocative statements are identified at an early stage, stakeholders may be able to resolve them before they develop into physical violence.

The police therefore encouraged political actors to resolve disagreements through lawful mechanisms.

Where political parties have disputes concerning nominations, primaries, membership, candidate selection or electoral processes, the appropriate response should be dialogue, internal mechanisms or legal action rather than confrontation.

The police also stressed the importance of intelligence-led security operations.

This means security agencies need accurate information about potential threats and must be able to respond before serious incidents occur.

ELECTORAL DISPUTES SHOULD GO TO THE COURTS

One of the most important principles highlighted during the discussions was the need for political stakeholders to use lawful channels to resolve electoral disagreements.

Nigeria's electoral history has shown that disagreements over party primaries, nominations, results and other electoral processes can sometimes become highly contentious.

Political actors who believe that their rights have been violated have legal avenues available to challenge decisions.

The police therefore urged stakeholders to use those avenues instead of resorting to violence.

The principle is particularly relevant in Oyo State because political competition has already produced disagreements within some parties over candidates and party structures.

Such disputes can create tension among supporters.

However, the existence of a dispute does not automatically justify confrontation.

Political disagreements can be taken before appropriate party structures, electoral bodies or courts depending on the nature of the dispute.

The responsibility of politicians is therefore to ensure that supporters understand that a political disagreement is not a licence for violence.

WHY THE WARNING MATTERS NOW

The timing of the police warning is significant.

Nigeria is already entering a period of intensified political activity ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Candidates and political parties are becoming more visible, while political organisations are increasing their mobilisation efforts.

Oyo State is expected to be one of the states where political competition will attract considerable attention.

The state has a long history of competitive politics, and its political landscape includes several influential parties and political figures.

The 2027 contest is therefore likely to generate strong campaigning.

Strong competition is not necessarily a problem.

In fact, competition can be beneficial to democracy when it encourages candidates to present better ideas and gives voters meaningful choices.

The danger arises when political competition becomes personalised and supporters begin to believe that winning justifies any method.

That is why the police are urging stakeholders to establish peaceful political behaviour before the campaign atmosphere becomes even more intense.

SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE NEW POLITICAL BATTLEFIELD

Another challenge facing political stakeholders is the increasing importance of social media.

Political campaigns are no longer restricted to rallies, posters, newspapers, radio and television.

Candidates and supporters can now communicate directly with thousands or even millions of people through digital platforms.

This creates opportunities for political participation but also creates risks.

False allegations can spread quickly.

Old photographs can be presented as new events.

Edited videos can be circulated without context.

Political opponents can be targeted with insults, threats or accusations that have not been independently established.

The police warning against deliberate falsehood and inflammatory rhetoric therefore extends beyond physical rallies.

Political parties and their supporters must also consider the consequences of what they publish and circulate online.

A person who shares a provocative claim without checking its accuracy may contribute to political tension even if the person did not create the original material.

Political leaders therefore have an increasing responsibility to educate their digital supporters.

They can help reduce tension by discouraging abusive language, threats and the deliberate circulation of unverified claims.

YOUTHS MUST NOT BE USED AS INSTRUMENTS OF VIOLENCE

The Commissioner specifically warned against using youths as instruments of political violence.

Young people are an essential part of Nigeria's democratic process.

They vote, campaign, volunteer, organise events, create political content and participate in community mobilisation.

Their involvement can strengthen democracy.

However, political actors can also exploit young people's energy and frustration for destructive purposes.

The police therefore urged leaders to encourage young people to participate constructively.

Young people should be encouraged to become voters, volunteers, policy advocates and community organisers rather than being mobilised to attack opponents.

This is an important distinction.

Political participation should provide young Nigerians with a platform to influence government and public policy.

It should not expose them to unnecessary criminal charges, injury or death.

The long-term consequences of political violence can also be severe for the young people involved.

An individual who participates in violence may face arrest, prosecution or other legal consequences long after the political campaign has ended.

Meanwhile, the politicians who encouraged confrontation may move on to other political activities.

The police message is therefore that young people should protect their own future by refusing to become tools for political violence.

THE ROLE OF INEC

The Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Oyo State, Prof. Adeniran Rahmon Tella, also urged political parties and candidates to reject inflammatory rhetoric.

The electoral body has a central responsibility in the conduct of elections, but it cannot by itself guarantee peaceful elections.

Political parties, security agencies, candidates, traditional institutions, religious leaders, civil society organisations and voters all have roles to play.

The electoral commission's representative therefore called for campaigns to be treated as contests of ideas rather than battles.

That distinction is important.

A political election should involve competing visions for governance.

Candidates should be able to criticise one another's policies without threatening one another's supporters.

Voters should be able to support one candidate without fearing supporters of another.

Political parties should be able to organise rallies without attempting to intimidate opponents.

And electoral officials should be able to carry out their duties without pressure or threats.

SECURITY AND DEMOCRACY ARE CONNECTED

Peaceful elections are not simply a matter of political etiquette.

They are directly connected to security and economic stability.

When political violence occurs, businesses can be forced to close.

Markets can become empty.

Transport services can be disrupted.

Schools may suspend activities.

Residents can avoid certain areas because of fear.

Investors may also become concerned about instability.

For a state such as Oyo, which contains a large commercial centre in Ibadan and numerous agricultural and trading communities, prolonged political unrest could have economic consequences.

Political violence can also damage relationships between communities.

A dispute that begins between supporters of two candidates can sometimes acquire ethnic, religious or community dimensions if political actors deliberately exploit identity.

This is why the police specifically warned against using ethnic and religious sentiments during campaigns.

WHAT POLITICAL PARTIES NEED TO DO

The responsibility for peaceful elections does not rest solely with the police.

Political parties have a major role to play.

First, party leaders need to clearly communicate acceptable standards of conduct to their supporters.

Second, candidates should publicly reject violence and threats, even when such actions appear to benefit their own political interests.

Third, parties should establish mechanisms for resolving internal disagreements before they become public confrontations.

Fourth, political organisations should discourage the spread of unverified information.

Fifth, candidates should ensure that campaign rallies and other public activities are properly organised and conducted in accordance with applicable rules.

Finally, parties should cooperate with security and electoral authorities when disputes arise.

These measures can reduce the likelihood of political disagreements becoming security problems.

WHAT VOTERS SHOULD EXPECT

For voters, the police warning should serve as a reminder that political campaigns belong to the electorate as much as they belong to politicians.

Citizens should demand explanations from candidates.

They should ask how proposed policies will be funded.

They should compare records where candidates have previously held public office.

They should examine manifestos and promises.

They should also be cautious about political information circulating online.

A voter does not have to insult an opponent in order to support a preferred candidate.

Democracy allows disagreement.

Indeed, disagreement is an essential part of democracy.

The goal should be to ensure that disagreement does not become hatred.

THE IMPORTANCE OF TRADITIONAL AND RELIGIOUS LEADERS

Traditional rulers and religious leaders can also play an important role in preventing electoral violence.

They often have influence within communities that political institutions and security agencies may not possess.

They can use community meetings, sermons, traditional gatherings and public statements to encourage peaceful participation.

They can also help calm tensions when political disagreements begin to spread within communities.

The police therefore called on stakeholders beyond political parties and security agencies to support the effort to keep Oyo State peaceful.

A TEST FOR POLITICAL MATURITY

The 2027 election will ultimately provide a test of political maturity for candidates, parties, supporters and voters.

Winning an election is important for political parties, but the process through which the election is contested is equally important.

A candidate who wins through violence does not strengthen democracy.

A party that mobilises supporters through threats does not build sustainable political institutions.

Likewise, a voter who supports violence ultimately risks damaging the democratic environment in which that voter's own political rights are exercised.

Political maturity means accepting that another candidate may win.

It means being able to criticise an opponent without threatening the opponent.

It means challenging questionable decisions through lawful channels.

It means accepting legitimate electoral outcomes while retaining the right to challenge unlawful processes.

It also means recognising that political opponents remain citizens and neighbours after the election.

POLICE MESSAGE TO OYO

The central message from the Oyo State Police Command is therefore straightforward: political competition must not become warfare.

The command has indicated that it will maintain neutrality, protect citizens and enforce the law.

At the same time, it is asking political actors to reduce inflammatory rhetoric before it creates security problems.

The coming months will determine whether political stakeholders take that warning seriously.

Oyo State has an opportunity to demonstrate that intense political competition can coexist with peaceful democratic participation.

Candidates can campaign.

Parties can compete.

Supporters can mobilise.

Voters can make different choices.

Political disagreements can be taken to the appropriate legal institutions.

All of these are compatible with democracy.

What is incompatible with democracy is intimidation, violence, threats and deliberate attempts to prevent citizens from freely supporting their preferred candidates.

As the 2027 political season develops, the responsibility will increasingly shift from security agencies alone to political parties, candidates and citizens.

The police can provide security, but they cannot create political maturity.

Political leaders must choose the language they use.

Supporters must choose the conduct they adopt.

Voters must choose the kind of political culture they want to encourage.

For Oyo State, the challenge is not simply to conduct an election.

The greater challenge is to ensure that the political contest does not damage the peace and social relationships that will remain after the ballots have been counted.

The police have now made their position clear: political ambition must not be allowed to threaten public peace, and the ballot—not violence—must determine the choice of the people.

With political activities intensifying, the effectiveness of that warning will depend on what political parties and their supporters do next.