The Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII) has urged politicians in Oyo State to make their campaigns issue-based and desist from attacking, abusing or calling one another names ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The council also called on political parties and their candidates to focus on policies, programmes and ideas capable of addressing the challenges facing the people of Oyo State and Nigeria.
The CCII President-General, Chief Ajeniyi Ajewole, made the call in a statement issued by the council’s Publicity Secretary, Kola Olomide, in Ibadan on Sunday.
Ajewole said political campaigns should provide candidates with an opportunity to explain their vision and plans to the electorate rather than become platforms for personal attacks and name-calling.
He urged candidates seeking elective positions in 2027 to clearly explain their programmes and policies, particularly how they intend to address challenges in education, healthcare, security, infrastructure, employment and the economy.
According to him, candidates seeking national offices should also tell Nigerians how they intend to move the country forward, allowing voters to compare their programmes and ideas.
Ajewole stressed that political differences should not be allowed to undermine the bonds of unity and peaceful coexistence among the people of Oyo State.
He urged candidates and their supporters to exercise restraint in their public statements, warning that inflammatory rhetoric could create unnecessary tension and distract voters from issues affecting their lives.
The CCII President-General also appealed to politicians to caution their media aides, social media handlers and bloggers against attacking perceived political opponents.
He said political disagreements were normal, particularly as the 2027 elections approach, but should not degenerate into personal attacks, insults, character assassination or the spread of inflammatory content.
Ajewole said voters deserved the opportunity to make informed decisions based on the records, programmes and vision of candidates rather than insults and personal attacks.
He further called on political parties, campaign organisations and supporters to place the interests of Oyo State and Nigeria above personal and partisan considerations and promote peaceful, mature and issue-based political engagement throughout the electioneering period.