By Bilesanmi Abayomi
As Nigeria moves steadily toward the 2027 general elections, it has become necessary to sound a consistent and unmistakable warning to political actors and their supporters: no political ambition is worth a human life.
This warning deserves daily repetition—like the early morning preacher calling for repentance, or the Muslim call to prayer reminding the faithful of duty—because recent developments suggest that politics is once again sliding toward a dangerous do-or-die mentality.
The warning signs are already visible. At a recent Lagos East Senatorial meeting, reports of violent clashes left some participants with head injuries. These incidents occurred despite prior concerns and cautionary signals raised by observers. The outcome reveals a troubling readiness by some political actors to deploy violence as a political tool, while innocent supporters bear the consequences.
History offers painful lessons. During the 2019 APC primary election, a prominent Kosofe APC stalwart, Hon. Ibrahim Mustapha, was brutally attacked. Many who witnessed the incident believe his survival was nothing short of divine intervention. Although reconciliation was later claimed by individuals linked to the attack, the scars—both physical and psychological—remain.
There is a saying: no events, no history. Time may pass, but photographs, bloodstains, and flashbacks preserve these moments. The injuries recently recorded at political gatherings reopen old wounds and raise fresh fears about what may lie ahead as 2027 approaches.
This reflection is not about naming or publicly condemning those behind past violence. Rather, it questions the price of blind political loyalty. What becomes of supporters who risk—or lose—their lives defending political interests? What compensation awaits their families? What lasting value does such sacrifice hold?
As Hon. Mustapha recently marked another birthday, the question becomes even more poignant: Is anyone’s blood truly worth spilling for a political ambition in 2027?
Supporters must confront a harsh reality. Political careers move on. Elections are won and lost. Politicians recover, regroup, and re-strategise. But families who lose loved ones are often left with permanent grief, abandoned by the very structures they defended.
As Nigeria inches closer to another election cycle, politicians across all parties must reject thuggery, violence, and political rascality. Even more importantly, supporters must prioritise their lives and personal safety. No politician can replace a father, mother, son, or daughter.
History records only one sacrifice that redeemed humanity—the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. No political ambition deserves such devotion.
As 2027 draws nearer, wisdom must prevail. Value your life. Protect your family. No political interest is worth dying for.