The Edo State Director of the National Orientation Agency, NOA, Barrister Osahon Woghiren, has warned political actors and their supporters against thuggery, hate speech, intimidation and other acts capable of undermining peace ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Woghiren said political competition must not be allowed to degenerate into violence, stressing that no electoral ambition was worth the peace and security of the state.

He made the call while urging political parties, candidates, their supporters, the media and the electorate to play responsible roles in ensuring peaceful, credible and participatory elections in 2027.

The NOA director specifically cautioned politicians against intimidating their opponents, whether physically or through social media, saying the growing influence of the digital space made responsible political communication more important than ever.

He said, “There must be no thuggery, no hate speeches and no intimidation of political opponents, whether online or physically. Political differences should not be allowed to destroy the peace of our communities.”

According to him, politicians seeking elective positions should sell their ideas, programmes and capacity to the people rather than resort to threats, abusive language, character assassination or violence.

Woghiren also challenged the media to rise above partisan considerations and play its constitutional and professional role as an important pillar of democracy.

He urged media organisations to provide a level playing field for all candidates and political parties, irrespective of their political affiliations or status.

“The media has a critical responsibility in this process. It should provide an equal playing field for all candidates. The media must refrain from partisan politics and provide informed, enlightened and elevated discourse that will help the electorate make informed decisions,” he said.

Woghiren noted that the quality of political discourse would have a significant impact on the quality of choices made by voters, urging journalists and broadcasters to interrogate the policies, records, manifestos and capacity of candidates rather than merely amplifying political attacks.

He said responsible journalism could help reduce tension, expose misinformation and give voters the information required to make sound electoral choices.

The NOA director further urged Nigerians, particularly the electorate, to take the electoral process seriously by acquiring adequate knowledge of the procedures and requirements for participating in elections.

He said an informed electorate would be less vulnerable to manipulation by politicians and would be better positioned to exercise its democratic rights responsibly.

“The electorate must understand the electoral processes. People need to know how the system works, what their rights are and what is expected of them. Good understanding of the electoral process is essential for meaningful participation,” Woghiren stated.

He stressed that elections should not be viewed merely as a contest for political power but as a process through which citizens determine the leadership and direction of their communities, states and country.

Woghiren therefore called on political parties, candidates, media practitioners, civil society organisations, traditional institutions, security agencies and citizens to begin building an atmosphere of tolerance and peaceful political engagement ahead of the 2027 elections.

He said political opponents should be treated as competitors rather than enemies, urging stakeholders to embrace dialogue and respect divergent political opinions.

“After the election, we will still remain neighbours, friends, colleagues and citizens of the same state. Political contest is temporary, but the consequences of violence can last for generations,” he warned.

He called on Edo residents to reject every attempt to use them as instruments of political violence and to demand issue-based campaigns from politicians seeking their votes.

Woghiren maintained that a peaceful election was a collective responsibility, insisting that the success of the 2027 electoral process would depend largely on the willingness of all stakeholders to respect the rules and place the interest of the society above personal and political ambitions.