Chief Chekwas Okorie
By Tony Adibe
A non-partisan socio-political and pro-democracy group, the Igbo Agenda Dialogue (IAD), has appealed to presidential candidates contesting the 2027 general election to focus on issues and avoid inflammatory utterances as political campaigns gather momentum across the country.
NewsBits recalls that earlier in the year, the Chief Chekwas Okorie-led IAD had, during a press conference at the Dome Events Centre, New Haven, Enugu, vowed to engage in aggressive and massive mobilisation of the Igbo populace nationwide to sensitize them on the urgent need to obtain their Permanent Voters Card (PVC) which would serve as their weapon to vote out bad leadership and usher competent Government at all levels.
In a statement issued on Monday and signed by its Convener and National Chairman, Chief Chekwas Okorie, and Executive Secretary, Jonathan Elendu, the group congratulated all presidential candidates on their emergence and commended their commitment to addressing Nigeria’s developmental, security, and unity challenges.
The organisation said that most of the candidates, in their acceptance speeches, identified key sectors requiring urgent attention to promote national development, strengthen security, and foster unity despite the country’s ethnic, religious, and regional diversities. According to IAD, the 2027 presidential election is expected to witness vigorous political competition, and it described the contest as one that promises to be “an epic encounter.”
The group, however, warned politicians and their supporters against resorting to divisive and inciting language, advising them instead to engage in constructive debates centred on policies and programmes.
IAD equally charged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure the conduct of “credible, transparent, free and fair elections,” insisting that Nigerians and the international community would be closely monitoring the electoral process.
The pro-democracy group also spoke on the activities expected from the security agencies, appealing to them to always maintain professionalism and neutrality. It cautioned against any actions that could undermine public confidence in the elections.
Okorie and Elendu also said in the statement: “The security agencies must not allow themselves to be compromised.” They emphasised that Nigeria is currently grappling with several security flashpoints and growing public discontent arising from economic and social challenges.
IAD warned that politicians, electoral officials, and security agencies should avoid actions or statements capable of worsening tensions in what it described as an already fragile political environment. IAD said that it had commenced a nationwide voter mobilisation campaign aimed at encouraging eligible citizens to participate in the final phase of INEC’s Continuous Voter Registration exercise and to turn out in large numbers to vote during the 2027 elections.
It also urged other civil society and community-based organisations to join the voter education and mobilisation effort in the interest of strengthening democratic participation. The IAD, while reaffirming its commitment to peaceful and democratic elections, further warned against any attempt to manipulate the electoral process, stressing that efforts to undermine the will of the electorate could trigger widespread unrest and threaten national stability.
