Bamidele Calls for Peace and Prayers During Eid-el-Kabir

Opeyemi Bamidele, the Senate Leader, issued a statement on Wednesday, marking Eid-el-Kabir, where he urged political actors to shun violence ahead of the 2027 elections scheduled for January 16 to February 6. He warned that no Nigerian life should be lost in the pursuit of political office, citing data that recorded 1,639 deaths due to electoral violence from 1999 to 2023, with a peak of 800 in 2011.

Bamidele called for prayers for the 87 children and teachers recently kidnapped in Borno and Oyo State, describing their continued detention as a breach of children's rights. He assured that security forces are committed to rescuing the victims and reuniting them with their families.

Bamidele emphasized that Nigeria's heritage should not be sacrificed for political ambitions and urged all political actors to conduct their campaigns within the law to avoid inciting violence. His message coincided with the upcoming International Children's Day in 2026, reinforcing the need for peace and unity in the nation.