By Ekuson Nw’Ogbunka
Abuja
Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, has called on Nigerians to pray for a peaceful 2027 general election and for the release of children, parents, and teachers still held captive by bandits and kidnappers. He made the appeal on Wednesday in a statement to mark Eid-el-Kabir.
Bamidele said no Nigerian, young or old, should lose their life because of the ambition of those seeking political office. The 2027 elections are scheduled for January 16 and February 6, 2027.
The Senate Leader warned political actors against inciting violence before, during, and after the polls. He cited data from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data, which recorded 1,639 deaths from electoral violence between 1999 and 2023.
“Regardless of our political parties, we must go into the campaign with a definite resolve that Nigeria is our collective heritage,” Bamidele stated. He urged all actors and institutions to conduct activities according to the law and avoid actions that could plunge the country into violence.
He noted that commemorating Eid-el-Kabir should go beyond annual ritual. According to him, it is a time to recommit to the nation’s peaceful coexistence and collective prosperity, especially as a few rogue elements pursue a different agenda.
Bamidele also drew attention to the plight of 87 children and teachers recently kidnapped in Borno and Oyo States. He said holding them in captivity violates the UN Convention on the Rights of Children and called for sustained prayers for their release.
The Senate Leader assured that security forces are committed to securing the release of the captives and reuniting them with their families. He added that the National Assembly is working to build systems that guarantee safety and security even in the remotest parts of the country.
He further said lawmakers are strengthening the social security system to meet the needs of Nigeria’s young population and are committed to ensuring maximum consequences for kidnappers and their allies.
Bamidele urged Nigerians to embrace Prophet Ibrahim’s virtues of faith, obedience, and sacrifice, especially as electioneering begins and nearly all political parties have chosen their standard bearers.
The statement, issued by the Directorate of Media and Public Affairs, Office of the Leader of the Senate, was dated May 27, 2026.
