The Nasarawa State Government has warned political parties and their supporters against engaging in violence during the ongoing political campaigns, declaring that anyone caught fomenting trouble will be arrested and prosecuted.
The government said it had put security measures in place to deal with individuals and groups seeking to disrupt the peace under the guise of campaigning for political support ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr. Nawani Aboki, gave the warning on Monday while briefing journalists in his office in Lafia, the state capital.
Aboki said the government was closely monitoring the security situation across the state’s 13 local government areas to ensure that eligible voters could exercise their franchise without intimidation, harassment or fear.
He cautioned political actors against interpreting the government’s peaceful disposition as a sign of weakness, stressing that the authorities would not tolerate acts capable of threatening public order.
“Quietness does not mean that somebody is weak. At times, when someone is pushed, the time comes when they must act,” he warned.
He added: “Anyone who wants to perpetuate violence will be arrested and prosecuted to ensure we have peaceful elections.”
The commissioner urged political parties and their candidates to conduct their campaigns in an orderly and civilised manner, noting that political violence had no place in a democratic electoral process.
He also called on eligible voters across the state to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to enable them to participate in the 2027 general elections.
Highlighting the achievements of the Federal Government and the administration of Governor Abdullahi Sule, Aboki urged residents to assess ongoing infrastructure and social development projects.
He cited the Federal Government’s ongoing dualisation and expansion of the Nasarawa-Keffi road network, as well as the Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe Superhighway, as major infrastructure interventions.
According to him, the projects formed part of the development efforts of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, which he said would feature prominently in the political debate ahead of the 2027 elections.
Aboki also said the Sule administration remained committed to delivering its development agenda, adding that the government was open to dialogue and constructive feedback from residents and stakeholders.
He called for sustained cooperation between government and citizens to achieve the state’s development objectives.
