By Lanre Oloyede
As the 2027 general elections draw nearer, security expert and public affairs analyst, Chief Jackson Lekan-Ojo, has decried the heightened spate of insecurity pervading different parts of the country and recent violent attacks targeted at opposition figures.
Speaking on the current socio-political climate, Lekan-Ojo noted that Nigeria is trapped in a tense situation marked by widespread anger over the skyrocketing cost of living, exorbitant transportation fares, and decaying educational and health systems. He stressed that widespread insecurity has paralyzed economic activities, preventing citizens from accessing farms and business places, while the purchasing power of the Naira has nosedived drastically.
Expressing concern over the posture of the political class ahead of the polls, the analyst criticized politicians for failing to present clear scorecards or constructive manifestoes. Instead, he alleged that political officeholders are worsening the tension by weaponizing state apparatuses and behaving like absolute authorities within their domains.
Lekan-Ojo highlighted recent disturbing incidents of political violence, pointing to the assault on presidential candidate Hon. Omoyele Sowore, who was wounded in a southern state. He lamented that no meaningful progress has been made regarding justice, with crucial CCTV footage allegedly seized or deleted by security forces.
He also drew attention to the political clampdown in Sokoto State, where the African Democratic Congress (ADC) gubernatorial candidate, Hon Manir Dan Iya survived an attack that left his convoy riddled with bullets and members of his entourage injured. According to him, following the attack, the Sokoto State ADC Secretariat was sealed off under the authority of the state government, while opposition campaign venues and hotels were allegedly blocked to suppress political freedom.
The security expert warned that suppressing citizens and stiffening the political space could spark dangerous, lawless reactions, emphasizing that “reactions are always bigger than actions” when people are deprived of basic freedom.
Consequently, Lekan-Ojo called on the Federal Government, the National Security Adviser, the military high command, and key security chiefs to nip these security threats in the bud. He warned political actors and power-mongers—particularly in states like Sokoto—to exercise extreme caution, cautioning that Nigeria and the international community will hold them directly accountable for any localized crises that could threaten the 2027 general elections.
