Political commentator and public affairs analyst, Mazi Ejimofor Opara, has cautioned Nigerians against allowing criminal activities such as kidnappings and banditry to become the sole basis for determining electoral outcomes in 2027.
Reacting to the recent abduction of schoolchildren and other residents in Oyo State, Opara argued that while insecurity remains a serious national concern, citizens must be careful not to give criminals the power to influence democratic processes through acts of terror.
According to him, the 2014 abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls is still widely cited as a major factor that contributed to the electoral defeat of former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015, a development he described as a dangerous precedent.
He warned that if Nigerians continue to allow criminal attacks to shape political decisions, it could encourage a pattern where bandits, kidnappers, and terrorists indirectly determine leadership outcomes through fear and instability.
“As tragic as the recent kidnapping of innocent citizens in Oyo is, it will not form the basis of my political decision in 2027,” Opara stated, stressing the need for collective action against criminal networks and their sponsors.
He further urged political actors and citizens to avoid weaponizing incidents of insecurity for political campaigns or personal attacks against political leaders.
Opara emphasized that criminality should not be viewed through ethnic or regional lenses, noting that criminals exist across all ethnic groups in Nigeria.
He called for a united national response rooted in zero tolerance for kidnapping, banditry, and terrorism, insisting that while Nigerians may disagree on who should win elections, they should agree that criminals must not be allowed to dictate the country’s democratic choices.
The statement comes amid growing concerns over insecurity and renewed debates about its potential impact on Nigeria’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections.
