As political activities begin to gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections, a security expert in Katsina State, Ibrahim Katsina, has urged politicians and their supporters to conduct their campaigns peacefully and avoid actions capable of overheating the political atmosphere.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Channels Television in Katsina on Monday, the former Special Adviser on Security Matters to former Governor Aminu Masari stressed that democracy thrives on healthy competition and issue-based campaigns rather than violence, intimidation and hate speech.
He advised political actors to concentrate on promoting the manifestos of their respective parties and candidates, describing peaceful engagement as the true beauty of democratic practice.
“As the 2027 electioneering campaign draws closer, my advice to politicians is that they play according to the rules of the game in order not to overheat the polity,” he said.
“Let them sell the manifesto of their parties and that of their candidates in an amicable manner, and that’s the beauty of democracy.
“We need a stable polity. Politicians should play according to the rules of the game and avoid anything that could create tension. And INEC must ensure that any politician who heats the polity by inciting government or using thuggery be sanctioned. And enforcement agencies should ensure that the regulations are followed.”
He further urged law enforcement agencies to ensure compliance with the rules guiding electioneering campaigns.
The security expert commended what he described as the significant improvement in the security situation across Katsina State, attributing the progress to the collaborative efforts of government and security agencies.
According to him, security agencies have become more professional in understanding emerging criminal trends and deploying effective containment measures, expressing optimism that the gains recorded would continue.
He expressed confidence that security challenges would be further reduced before the 2027 general elections, assuring that ongoing operations would deliver even greater successes.
Katsina emphasised that tackling insecurity requires collective responsibility, noting that every citizen has a role to play alongside government and security agencies.
“Security is everybody’s business. When we unite against terror, we will succeed. The country belongs to all of us, and we must work together to ensure criminals do not destabilise our society,” he stated.
He also cautioned against glorifying criminal activities on social media, warning that such narratives could embolden criminal elements and undermine public confidence.
Instead, he encouraged Nigerians to celebrate the successes of security agencies and support ongoing efforts to consolidate peace, expressing optimism that the remaining security challenges were surmountable through sustained collaboration and public support.
“The isolated cases now are surmountable, and I am sure that with the efforts being put in place by the government and security agencies, these crimes will come to pass,” Katsina noted.
