The Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, has called on political parties, candidates and other political actors to approach the 2027 election season with restraint, warning against inflammatory rhetoric and actions capable of threatening Nigeria’s peace and democratic stability.

Bamidele, who also chairs the South-West Caucus in the National Assembly, made the appeal in a statement issued in Abuja as Nigeria marked its 66th Independence Anniversary.

The Ekiti Central senator acknowledged that politicians have a constitutional right to participate in the political process and pursue electoral ambitions. However, he stressed that such rights must be exercised within the boundaries established by Nigeria’s laws and democratic institutions.

His comments come as political parties intensify preparations for the 2027 general elections. Under the revised timetable issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission, the presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, while governorship and state House of Assembly elections are scheduled for February 6, 2027.

Bamidele urged parties and their candidates to conduct their campaigns peacefully and in compliance with the Electoral Act, 2026 and the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

He cautioned that political participation should not be used as a justification for hate speech, inflammatory statements, intimidation or conduct capable of provoking political unrest or ethno-religious tensions.

According to the Senate Leader, political ambition should be pursued through lawful and democratic means rather than through actions that could undermine national cohesion.

He said Nigeria’s political contest should be governed by the rules of democracy and the electoral framework rather than confrontation, stressing that no political aspiration should come at the expense of the country’s peace.

Bamidele also reminded political actors that Nigeria belongs to all its citizens and that the country’s collective interests should remain greater than the ambitions of individual politicians or political parties.

He urged parties preparing their manifestos and campaign programmes to ensure that their proposals address the aspirations and welfare of Nigerians while contributing to national development.

His warning comes against the backdrop of increasing political activity ahead of the 2027 elections. The Electoral Act, 2026 introduced several changes to Nigeria’s electoral framework, including mandatory electronic transmission of results, compulsory use of BVAS or other technology prescribed by INEC for accreditation, and digital membership registers for political parties.

Bamidele has previously argued that the new electoral framework should provide greater stability and transparency for the 2027 electoral process. In a June 2026 interview, he also said he did not support amending the 2026 Electoral Act before the 2027 elections, arguing that further changes close to the election could create uncertainty in an already sensitive political environment.

As political parties move deeper into the election cycle, the Senate Leader's latest message places emphasis on peaceful participation, respect for electoral rules and the protection of Nigeria's democratic institutions.

He urged politicians to remember that political contests are temporary, while the consequences of actions that damage national unity can extend far beyond an election season.