Calls on INEC, Security Agencies to Remain Professional and Neutral
The Independent Newspaper Publishers’ Association of Rivers State (RIVPA) has called on political parties, candidates and the electorate across the country to conduct their political activities and election campaigns peacefully and responsibly as preparations intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Association urged political parties and candidates to make their campaigns issue-based by focusing on their policies, programmes, records, competence and vision for the people, rather than resorting to character assassination, ethnic or religious sentiments and deliberate misinformation.
RIVPA also appealed to all political stakeholders to respect the rights of citizens to freely attend political rallies, express their political opinions, associate with political parties of their choice and exercise their constitutional right to vote without fear, intimidation or harassment.
The Association made the call in a statement jointly signed and issued in Port Harcourt by the Chairman of its Caretaker Committee (CTC), Mr Ifeanyi Evans Osi, and the Secretary, Mr Augustine Tanee, on September 9, 2026.
RIVPA further called on security agencies deployed to provide security during political activities and election campaigns to remain professional, impartial and non-partisan in the discharge of their duties.
It particularly urged security personnel to provide adequate protection for journalists covering political campaigns, rallies and other electoral activities, stressing the importance of ensuring that members of the press can carry out their constitutional responsibilities without intimidation, harassment or obstruction.
The Association also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remain apolitical, transparent and impartial in the discharge of its responsibilities throughout the electoral process.
According to RIVPA, the credibility of the electoral process depends not only on the conduct of political parties and candidates but also on the professionalism and neutrality of institutions responsible for managing and securing elections.
The Association urged all stakeholders to place the peace, unity and democratic stability of the country above partisan interests, warning that inflammatory rhetoric, misinformation and acts of intimidation could undermine public confidence in the electoral process.
RIVPA stressed that a peaceful and credible electoral environment is essential to enabling citizens to make informed choices and strengthening public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic institutions. It therefore urged all political actors and electoral stakeholders to reject violence, intimidation, hate speech and misinformation, and to place the national interest above partisan considerations.
As political activities and preparations intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections, the Association called on political parties, candidates, security agencies, INEC, the media and the electorate to uphold peace, fairness, professionalism and respect for the rule of law. RIVPA emphasised that democracy can only thrive when citizens are free to make their choices without fear, journalists are allowed to report without intimidation, and electoral institutions and security agencies perform their duties with integrity, neutrality and accountability.
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