Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has urged politicians and their supporters to avoid violence, hostility and inflammatory statements ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He called for campaigns based on issues, saying political activities should promote democracy, peaceful coexistence and development.
The governor made the appeal on Sunday during the burial of Cephas Rijam Nyinya Akpam at Tse Akpam, Mbade, Binev, Tombo, in Buruku Local Government Area of the state.
Alia expressed concern over the growing use of violence and hostility by some political actors in pursuit of their ambitions.
He said elections should provide an opportunity for candidates to present their ideas, policies and plans for development rather than create division and confrontation.
The governor urged politicians to conduct their campaigns with maturity, mutual respect and a sense of responsibility, warning that political disagreements should not threaten the safety and peace of communities.
He also called on residents to reject violence and consider issues affecting their welfare and the future of the state when making political choices.
Alia appealed for continued support for his second-term ambition, saying another mandate would enable his administration to consolidate its achievements and continue ongoing development projects.
However, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, challenged the governor to demonstrate his opposition to political violence by first cautioning his supporters.
In a statement, the party's spokesperson, Bright Yima Antyo, said the governor should ensure that his aides, appointees and supporters refrain from intimidating political opponents.
The PDP said leadership required more than preaching peace to opposition parties, insisting that those in government must also demonstrate it through their actions and ensure justice for everyone.
“If the Governor is truly against political violence, then we task him to prove it by cautioning his own supporters first.
“Charity must begin at home. The Governor should publicly and firmly warn his aides, appointees and supporters that anyone who engages in intimidation, thuggery, destruction of opponents’ billboards, or attacks on campaign gatherings will be sanctioned, no matter how close they are to power,” the statement said.
The opposition party also called on Alia to ensure that security agencies remained neutral and were not used to harass or intimidate opposition members while protecting government supporters.
It urged the governor to ensure that police and other security agencies protected all residents equally, regardless of their political affiliations.
“A government that uses state power to silence dissent is itself promoting violence,” the PDP said.
The party further argued that issue-based campaigns could only take place where freedom of speech, assembly and equal access to public spaces were guaranteed.
It called on the state government to allow opposition parties to campaign freely across Benue without fear of attacks or being denied access to campaign venues.