2027: Don urges politicians to focus on issues-based campaigns

Prof. Jonah Onuoha, a Lecturer at the Department of Political Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), has called for issue-based campaigns ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Onuoha made the call in an interview with the news reporters on Thursday in Nsukka, while speaking on the commencement of campaign for 2027 general elections.

The Don advised political party candidates to ensure their campaigns were issue-based rather than blackmail.

Newsmen recall that the in-line with the INEC timetable, campaigns for both the Presidential and National Assembly election commenced Aug. 19, while governorship and state assemblies is scheduled for Sept. 9.

He advised politicians to refrain from name-calling and blackmailing of political opponents but to concentrate on issue-based conversations that would address the needs of Nigerian citizens.

“As campaign has started on Aug. 19 according to INEC timetable for 2027 general elections, I advise politicians to focus their campaigns on issue-based matters instead of smear campaigns against political opponents.

“Election campaigns should focus on ideas and not insults or blackmail of political opponents,” he said.

Onuoha, who is also the Director, Centre for American Studies, UNN, also called on INEC to sanction candidates who engaged in hate speech, blackmail and character assassination.

“Nigerians are tired of politics of bitterness; what we need now is how to move the country forward and politics of solutions and unity,” he said.