Written By: Ahmed Rufa’i in Dutse
The Civil Society Coalition on Peace, Security and Conflict Resolution (CCSPCR) has urged political parties and candidates participating in the 2027 governorship and State House of Assembly elections in Jigawa State to shun violence, hate speech, intimidation and other forms of unlawful conduct during their campaigns.
The Coalition, in a statement signed by its Acting Head of Secretariat, Barrister Nura Muhammad, for the Chairman, Comrade Musbahu Basirka, called for peaceful, issue-based and responsible political engagement throughout the electoral season.
It urged political parties and candidates to focus their campaigns on programmes, policies, achievements, ideas and their vision for the development of the state rather than personal attacks, religious or ethnic sentiments, misinformation and incitement.
According to the Coalition, Jigawa has a long history of peaceful coexistence which must be protected from political rivalry capable of threatening the unity and social harmony among communities and the five Emirates in the state.
The CCSPCR declared a capital “NO” to political thuggery, violence, vandalism, destruction of public and private property, intimidation, harassment, hate speech and other unlawful activities during the campaign and election periods.
It also appealed to political supporters, campaign organisations and interest groups to conduct themselves with maturity and respect, stressing that political differences should not be allowed to turn brothers against brothers, communities against communities or one Emirate against another.
The Coalition particularly warned youths against allowing themselves to be recruited as instruments of political violence and destruction, urging them to protect their future by participating responsibly in the electoral process.
It called on young people using social media to deploy their platforms to promote peace, tolerance, credible information and constructive political debate rather than insults, threats, fake news and inflammatory messages.
“No political position is worth sacrificing the future of our young people,” the Coalition said.
The group also expressed confidence in the capacity and professionalism of security agencies to protect lives and property before, during and after the elections.
It urged the security agencies to remain professional, impartial and committed to the rule of law while ensuring the safety of citizens, political candidates, supporters and other stakeholders throughout the electoral process.
The Coalition further appealed to media organisations, particularly radio stations operating across the state, to uphold the principles of responsible journalism and avoid providing platforms for hate speech, misinformation, incitement and messages capable of creating division.
It stressed that the media has a critical role to play in promoting informed public debate and providing citizens with opportunities to hear competing political ideas peacefully.
The CCSPCR reminded political actors and citizens that Jigawa State was greater than any individual, political party or interest group, urging stakeholders to put the interest of the state above political differences.
“Let us campaign without hatred, compete without violence and disagree without becoming enemies. Let us protect our communities and our brotherhood,” it said.
The Coalition called on citizens to join hands in protecting peace, security and social cohesion in Jigawa before, during and after the 2027 elections, urging all stakeholders to ensure that political competition remains peaceful and issue-based.
It concluded by stressing that Jigawa belongs to all its citizens and appealed to political actors and the electorate to ensure that unity remains stronger than political differences.
