The President-General of the Abavo Clan Union in Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State, Amechi Mumeh, has warned politicians and their supporters against turning the 2027 elections into a “war” of bitterness, violence and intimidation.
Mumeh urged political actors to place the peace, unity and wellbeing of their communities above the pursuit of political power, stressing that elections should be a contest of ideas and leadership rather than a battleground for settling personal and political scores.
He made the call in a statement issued after receiving greetings from His Royal Majesty, Obi Uche Irenuma, the Obi of Abavo and the people of Abavo Kingdom.
Mumeh cautioned politicians against deploying violence, inflammatory rhetoric, insults, name-calling and personal attacks during the campaigns, insisting that the desire to win an election must never come at the expense of lives, friendships and communities.
“Politics is a contest for leadership, not a ring for physical combat that could destroy lives, friendships and communities,” he said.
The Abavo leader urged candidates seeking elective positions to focus their campaigns on programmes, policies, competence and vision rather than character assassination and mudslinging.
He said voters deserved to know how candidates intended to address the challenges confronting their communities, including education, healthcare, roads, employment, security and economic development.
“Political campaigns should be issue-based, not personal attacks,” Mumeh said.
He also appealed to political supporters to exercise restraint and avoid allowing partisan differences to destroy longstanding relationships.
According to him, while politicians and their principals may be focused on winning elections, supporters should not allow political loyalty to create permanent enemies or tear communities apart.
“Our democracy must mature beyond violence, intimidation and rancour. As a people, we have to outgrow these practices,” he warned.
Mumeh condemned the use of inciting statements, religious manipulation and inflammatory language capable of deepening divisions among the people.
He stressed that political differences must never be allowed to turn neighbours into enemies or pit one community against another, urging politicians and their supporters to conduct themselves with maturity and decorum throughout the electoral process.
He called for a new political culture anchored on tolerance, peaceful competition and genuine concern for the welfare of the people.
Mumeh urged politicians to “compete vigorously but peacefully, disagree without hatred and accept the verdict of the electorate.”
“Political power is temporary, but the people and their communities remain,” he said, urging political actors to play politics without bitterness and ensure that the votes of the people count.
