The warning by the federal government that it would not be blackmailed by those running afoul of the law of the land, insisting the law must take its course, irrespective of who is involved, is quite timely and germane.
The warning has become necessary following the release of the revised timetable for the 2027 general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) which signalled the commencement of activities towards the elections by political parties and their candidates.
Given the proclivity of Nigeria’s politicians for violence, hate speech, crying wolf where there is none, circumventing the law, and other electoral malpractices, the warning could not have come at a better time.
Speaking during the annual conference of the National Association of Judiciary Correspondents (NAJUC) penultimate Thursday in Abuja, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, stated, “Those who have lost their sense of patriotism should know that they would not be allowed to set the country on fire.”
While commending the role of the media in deepening democracy in the country, he noted that the media, through their reportage, shapes political behaviours as well as expectations in any election.
“The government will not succumb to blackmail no matter whose ox is gored. Violence, hate speech or any other criminal tendencies will not be tolerated in any form”, he said.
“The activities towards the 2027 general elections have commenced, and the media have their role to play. As the main bridge between INEC, political actors, and 90+ million potential voters, the press shapes expectations, trust, and behaviour before ballots are cast and after results are declared.
“It is on this note that I urge the media not to give room to political actors trying to tear the fabric of this nation. The media must remember we need to have our country first before we can talk about elections. That is why as stakeholders, the media must not be used as a tool of division. Those fanning the ember of hatred must be stopped”, the minister said.
Fagbemi, who was represented by the Special Assistant on Legislative Drafting, Office of the AGF, Hussein Oloyede, also expressed dismay over the activities of those he described as “political desperadoes”, saying they must learn to act responsibly and within the laws of the land.
The AGF added: “Those who have lost their sense of patriotism should know that they would not be allowed to set the country on fire. Let me state with respect, relevant government agencies will not be stopped from doing their work if anyone runs afoul of the law.
He called on Nigerians to show a sense of patriotism and protect the unity of the country, as the elections draw nearer, adding that “the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration sees the media as partners, hence, it’s doing everything to ensure journalists do their job without intimidation or any form of threats.”
Earlier in his welcome address, the chairman of NAJUC, Abuja chapter, Mr Kayode Lawal, called for reforms of the judiciary to safeguard democracy ahead of the 2027 general elections.
While highlighting concerns over the integrity of Nigeria’s justice system, Lawal warned that conflicting court orders, particularly in politically sensitive cases, pose a serious threat to national stability.
Juxtaposed with the plea of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the Supreme Court to expeditiously deliver its judgement in the appeal on the party’s leadership, the federal government’s warning may have struck a chord on the 2007 polls.
ADC, in a letter to Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, stated that failure to deliver judgement within the period would jeopardise the chances of the party in the 2027 general elections.
It said that would also dash the hope of millions of Nigerians intending to vote for ADC and its candidates at the general elections slated for early January next year.
In the letter dated April 28, ADC’s lead counsel, Mr Shuaibu Aruwa, recalled that the apex court “graciously heard expeditiously on April 22, 2026 and judgement was thereafter reserved to a date to be communicated by the court”.
Aruwa, however, stated that they were “most respectfully constrained to request for the CJN’s kind intervention and directive in ensuring that the judgement was rendered timeously” on the grounds that the INEC, which is the fourth respondent in the said appeal, purportedly, acting pursuant to the judgement of the lower court in Appeal No: CA/ABJ/145/2026, had removed or de-recognised the leadership of ADC.
The senior lawyer submitted that the action of INEC had left ADC without leadership at the moment even though ADC remained a recognised registered political party in Nigeria.
Blueprint.ng lauds the federal government for its warning to desperate politicians to desist from any form of electoral misconduct against the backdrop of the Tinubu administration’s renewed hope agenda to conduct free, fair, transparent, and acceptable elections in 2027.
While we acknowledge the dire situation the opposition finds itself, much of which is self-inflicted, it is expedient to urge all the political players for the 2027 elections to stick to the rules, including the Nigerian constitution, the 2026 Electoral Act and other extant laws and regulations guiding the conduct of next year’s elections.
This newspaper also appeals to the national electoral umpire, INEC, the judiciary, the media, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders in the electoral system, to exercise due diligence in order to ensure that no one is disenabled, disenfranchised, deprived or denied of his constitutional right to exercise his universal adult suffrage, to wit, vote or be voted for.