Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has called on politicians and their supporters to shun violence, hostility and inflammatory remarks ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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The governor urged political parties to focus their campaigns on issues, policies and development, noting that political activities should strengthen democracy and promote peaceful coexistence.
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Alia made the appeal on Sunday at the burial of Cephas Rijam Nyinya Akpam in Tse Akpam, Mbade, Binev, Tombo, Buruku Local Government Area of the state.
He expressed concern over the use of violence and hostility by some political actors to advance their ambitions, stressing that elections should provide an opportunity for candidates to present their ideas and development plans rather than create divisions.
The governor urged politicians to approach their campaigns with maturity, mutual respect and responsibility, warning that political disagreements should not endanger the safety and peace of communities.
He also appealed to residents to reject violence and consider issues affecting their welfare and the future of the state when making political choices.
Alia further sought support for his second-term ambition, saying another mandate would enable his administration to consolidate its achievements and complete ongoing development projects.
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However, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) challenged the governor to demonstrate his commitment to ending political violence by first cautioning his supporters.
In a statement, the party’s spokesperson, Bright Yima Antyo, urged Alia to ensure that his aides, appointees and supporters did not intimidate political opponents.
The PDP argued that promoting peace required more than appealing to opposition parties, insisting that those in government must demonstrate their commitment through their conduct and ensure justice for all.
The party called on the governor to publicly warn his supporters against intimidation, thuggery, destruction of opposition billboards and attacks on campaign gatherings, adding that anyone found engaging in such acts should face sanctions regardless of their relationship with the government.
It also urged Alia to ensure that security agencies remained neutral and were not deployed to harass or intimidate opposition members while protecting supporters of the ruling government.
The PDP maintained that the police and other security agencies should provide equal protection to all residents, irrespective of their political affiliations.
It further argued that issue-based campaigns would only be possible where freedom of speech and assembly, as well as equal access to public spaces, were guaranteed.
The opposition party called on the Benue State Government to allow political parties to campaign freely across the state without fear of attacks or restrictions on access to campaign venues.
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