As political parties commence campaigns for the 2027 governorship election, the Kano State Government has called on candidates and their supporters to focus on policies, records and development programmes rather than personal attacks, hate speech and violence.
Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, Director General, Media and Publicity, Government House, Kano, appealed on Wednesday while addressing journalists on the official commencement of the 2027 governorship campaign.
Dawakin Tofa said the campaign period should provide candidates with an opportunity to explain their programmes and visions to voters, stressing that Kano residents deserved a political contest centred on how competing candidates intended to improve their lives.
He said the government, under Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, was committed to ensuring that political activities did not undermine the relative peace enjoyed in the state.
‘Let us compete on the basis of ideas, policies, records and programmes rather than insults, intimidation or violence,’ he said.
The government spokesperson urged governorship candidates and their supporters to conduct peaceful and responsible campaigns across the state, warning political actors against hate speech, provocation, character assassination, destruction of property and other actions capable of disrupting public order.
He also called on supporters of the ruling administration to remain disciplined and avoid being provoked into confrontations with supporters of rival political parties.
The appeal comes as the political atmosphere in Kano begins to intensify ahead of the 2027 elections, with the campaign season expected to increase public engagement and competition among political parties.
Dawakin Tofa also placed responsibility on the media, bloggers, influencers and social media users to prevent the campaign season from becoming a platform for the circulation of misinformation and inflammatory content.
He urged media practitioners and social media users to verify information before publication and avoid spreading rumours, fake news and materials capable of heightening political tension.
According to him, responsible information management would be critical to preserving peace as political parties intensify their campaigns and mobilise supporters across Kano’s 44 local government areas.
He further urged security agencies to maintain professionalism, impartiality and vigilance throughout the campaign period, while calling on political parties and campaign organisations to cooperate with security authorities and comply with lawful requirements.
Dawakin Tofa said the commencement of political campaigns would not distract the state government from its responsibility to provide services and pursue development projects.
He said the government would continue to discharge its responsibilities irrespective of the political season, maintaining that its commitment to development and good governance remained unchanged.
‘Kano is bigger than any political party or individual. Political competition will come and go, but we will continue to live together as one people after the election,’ he said.
The government therefore appealed to political parties and candidates to place the collective interest of Kano above partisan differences and protect the state’s social cohesion throughout the electioneering period.
Dawakin Tofa said candidates should be prepared to disagree politically without resorting to violence, while encouraging them to make the campaign a contest of ideas and competing visions for the state’s future.
He, however, ended the government’s message with an expression of confidence that candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) would emerge victorious across the various elective positions in the 2027 elections.