Odita Sunday 
2027 Presidency: HURIWA Warns Candidates Against Hate Politics, Demands Costed Development Plans
By Odita Sunday
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has challenged presidential candidates in the 2027 general elections to abandon ethnic and religious mobilisation and use the campaign season to present Nigerians with credible, measurable and properly funded solutions to the country’s worsening economic, security and governance challenges.
The rights group said the 150-day presidential campaign must not become another theatre of political name-calling, character assassination and empty promises, warning that Nigeria can no longer afford an electoral process driven primarily by ethnic calculations, religious sentiments and regional interests.
In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, on Wednesday, HURIWA said candidates must tell Nigerians not only what they intend to do if elected, but how, when, through which institutions and with what resources their promises would be implemented.
“The Nigerian people deserve a campaign of ideas, not a campaign of hatred; a campaign of development, not a campaign of division; and a campaign of accountability, not a campaign of propaganda,” HURIWA said.
The organisation urged candidates and their supporters to conduct their campaigns with restraint and civility while respecting the constitutional rights of political opponents and other citizens.
HURIWA said economic transformation must occupy the centre of the 2027 presidential contest, challenging candidates to present credible blueprints for moving Nigeria away from an import-dependent, consumption-driven economy towards production, manufacturing, agriculture, technology and value addition.
The group demanded specific proposals for tackling inflation, unemployment, declining purchasing power and the difficulties confronting small and medium-scale enterprises.
It also called on presidential candidates to explain how they would promote industrialisation across all 36 states rather than allowing economic opportunities to remain concentrated in a few major urban centres.
According to HURIWA, every state possesses economic resources and comparative advantages that could be developed to create jobs, increase internally generated revenue and reduce dependence on federal allocations.
The rights group further challenged candidates to explain how they would attract genuine Foreign Direct Investment while protecting Nigeria’s national interests.
On insecurity, HURIWA demanded detailed and measurable strategies for defeating terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes.
It called for stronger coordination among the military, police, intelligence agencies and other security institutions, insisting that Nigerians deserve more than broad campaign promises on security.
The organisation also urged presidential candidates to support the counter-narcotics efforts of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), arguing that illicit drugs are closely linked to youth vulnerability, organised crime and national security.
HURIWA warned security agencies, particularly the police, against allowing themselves to be transformed into instruments for intimidating or suppressing political opponents during the election season.
The organisation called for functional, professional and accountable policing at federal and state levels, with adequate funding and safeguards against partisan political control.
“Law enforcement agencies must not become political instruments or ‘attack dogs’ for politicians, especially those in power,” HURIWA warned.
It demanded zero tolerance for armed political thuggery, electoral violence, intimidation and the recruitment of criminal elements into political campaigns.
The group also urged security agencies to provide equal protection to all candidates, political parties and citizens irrespective of political affiliation.
HURIWA further challenged presidential candidates to make unequivocal commitments to human rights, constitutionalism and the rule of law.
It said fundamental rights must be protected irrespective of whether citizens support or oppose the government in power.
The organisation also demanded commitments to legislative independence, stressing that democracy cannot function effectively without genuine checks and balances among the executive, legislature and judiciary.
It maintained that the National Assembly must be allowed to exercise its constitutional responsibilities without undue executive interference, while lawmakers must remain accountable to the electorate.
On gender equality, HURIWA urged candidates to present concrete policies for improving the participation of women and historically underrepresented groups in politics, employment, education and commerce.
The organisation warned political parties against treating women and other marginalised groups merely as electoral audiences during campaigns before abandoning them after elections.
It demanded measurable targets and policies capable of translating campaign rhetoric on inclusion into actual representation and economic opportunity.
The rights group also raised concerns over excessive charges imposed by some state governments on political billboards.
While acknowledging the legitimate authority of state governments to regulate outdoor advertising and protect public spaces, HURIWA warned that such regulations must not become a weapon for restricting political expression or denying opposition parties fair access to voters.
It called for reasonable, transparent and non-discriminatory charges for campaign materials.
The organisation equally urged political parties and supporters to obey environmental regulations, warning against indiscriminate dumping of campaign materials, destruction of public infrastructure and obstruction of roads in the name of political mobilisation.
HURIWA said climate change and disaster preparedness must also become major issues in the 2027 presidential contest.
It challenged candidates to explain their plans for tackling flooding, erosion, drought and extreme weather events that threaten communities, infrastructure and livelihoods.
The organisation called for stronger early-warning systems, flood-control measures, improved urban planning, environmental protection, emergency response mechanisms and climate-resilient infrastructure.
It said natural disasters could no longer be treated as seasonal emergencies requiring temporary interventions after communities had already suffered devastating losses.
HURIWA also challenged presidential candidates to articulate a foreign policy capable of restoring Nigeria’s influence in Africa while attracting investment and opening international markets for Nigerian businesses.
It said the next administration must deploy diplomacy to expand export opportunities, attract investment and protect the interests of Nigerians living and working abroad.
According to the organisation, foreign policy should serve Nigeria’s economic and development interests rather than remain confined to diplomatic protocol.
HURIWA said the 2027 campaign provides an opportunity to raise the quality of political discourse in Nigeria.
It urged political parties, candidates, campaign organisations and their supporters to reject attempts to exploit ethnic, religious and regional differences for electoral advantage.
The organisation also called on the media, civil society groups, professional bodies, religious institutions and voters to demand issue-based debates and scrutinise the records, competence, character and policy proposals of all presidential candidates.
HURIWA warned Nigerians against being distracted by lavish rallies, political theatrics and inflammatory speeches, urging voters to focus instead on the substance of candidates’ programmes and their capacity to deliver.
“The 2027 election must ultimately be about the Nigerian people and their right to live in a secure, prosperous, democratic and rights-respecting country,” the organisation said.
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