Council Urges 2027 Candidates to Avoid Hate Speech

The Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development Council of the Wise, chaired by Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, called on presidential candidates for the 2027 general elections to avoid hate speech, inflammatory remarks, and violence during their campaigns. This appeal was made during an advocacy engagement with Donald Duke, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party and former Governor of Cross River State, on Tuesday in Abuja.

The Council expressed concerns over heightened political tensions and the potential for violence as campaigns begin. Ariwoola highlighted the history of violence and malpractice in Nigerian elections since 1999, referencing the flawed 2007 election and the subsequent violence in 2011 that resulted in over 1,000 deaths.

He noted the establishment of the Council of the Wise in 2014 to promote peaceful elections and reiterated its role in mediating ahead of the 2027 elections. The Council congratulated Duke on his emergence as the Party’s Flagbearer for the 2027 Presidential elections.