2027 campaigns: All eyes on Tinubu, Atiku, Obi amid anxiety over hate speech, personal attacks
As the 2027 Nigerian general election campaigns begin, there is growing concern over the potential for political violence, hate speech, and misinformation. While several candidates have signed a peace accord, notable figures like Atiku Abubakar have abstained, raising fears of a divisive contest.
Why it matters
The stability of the upcoming election is critical for Nigeria's democratic process and regional influence in Africa.
Layer 1 By Dapo Akinrefon & Gabriel Ewepu
As the campaigns for the 2027 general elections begin following the signing of the Peace Accord last week by presidential candidates, there are fears over the likelihood of the exercise snowballing into brinkmanship.
Specifically, there are concerns that the contest could descend into an increasingly bitter and divisive struggle, with hate speech, ethnic profiling, misinformation and political violence threatening to overshadow the issues that matter most to Nigerians.
The presidential and National Assembly campaigns officially commenced on Tuesday, August 19, 2026, and would run until January 15, 2027, exactly 24 hours before the presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for January 16, 2027.
Also, the governorship and state House of Assembly campaigns would commence on September 9, 2026, and end on February 5, 2027, ahead of the elections scheduled for February 6, 2027.
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