The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has warned political parties, candidates and voters against violence, hate speech and other acts capable of disrupting the 2027 general elections as campaign activities gather momentum.
The warning was issued Thursday by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations in the FCT, Isyaku Sharu, during a show of force patrol conducted across parts of the nation’s capital.
The patrol covered the Karmo, Gwagwa, Dei Dei and Gwarimpa areas, which police identified among locations requiring increased security attention during the election period.
Sharu said the operation was carried out in line with a directive from Inspector General of Police Olatunji Disu for police commands across the country to ensure that political campaigns remain peaceful and that citizens can participate safely in the electoral process.
He described campaigning as a critical stage of the electoral process and called on political actors, voters and other stakeholders to work with security agencies to protect lives and property.
The FCT police command said it would not tolerate hate speech or actions capable of escalating political tensions. Sharu stressed that elections should not be treated as a conflict and that no political victory justified the loss of human life.
The police also urged politicians to focus their campaigns on issues and policy proposals rather than personal attacks, intimidation or violence.
Sharu said candidates who had programmes and policies to offer should communicate them clearly to voters instead of resorting to fighting, inflammatory rhetoric or other conduct capable of heating up the political environment.
He said police personnel deployed for election duties had received training on the electoral code of conduct and rules of engagement to strengthen professionalism during campaigns and other electoral activities.
The command also announced plans to organise a peace accord involving chairmen of political parties in the FCT. The initiative is intended to reinforce commitments to peaceful and issue based campaigns at the territory level, following a similar national process.
The show of force will be extended to all six area councils of the FCT as part of efforts to reassure residents of the police’s readiness to maintain security throughout the electioneering period.
The police warning comes amid broader preparations for Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, with authorities increasingly focusing on the risks posed by political violence, hate speech and the use of young people in electoral conflicts.
The Inspector General of Police has previously warned political actors against recruiting or mobilising young Nigerians for violence and against the use of weapons, intimidation of voters, attacks on opponents and destruction of property during the electoral cycle.
The National Human Rights Commission has similarly warned that hate speech, incitement and divisive rhetoric could undermine peaceful coexistence and democratic participation. The commission established a situation room to receive complaints relating to inflammatory and divisive speech ahead of the 2027 elections.
For the FCT, where political rallies and other campaign activities are expected to increase as the election approaches, effective policing will need to be matched by responsible conduct from political parties, candidates, supporters and voters.
The police said its objective is to facilitate peaceful political participation while enforcing the law against individuals who engage in violence or other criminal conduct during the electioneering process.
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