From Idris Khalid, Bauchi
A prominent chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Khamis Musa Darazo, has called on the Department of State Services (DSS) and other relevant security agencies to examine recent statements attributed to Senator Dino Melaye concerning the 2027 general elections.
Darazo said the authorities should establish whether any of the remarks could heighten political tension, create unnecessary apprehension or pose a threat to national security as political activities ahead of the elections gather momentum.
Speaking with journalists on Wednesday in Bauchi, the APC chieftain stressed that his call was not intended to silence opposition voices or restrict freedom of expression but to ensure that political actors exercise responsibility in their public statements.
According to him, Nigeria’s democracy is strong enough to accommodate criticism, disagreement and political competition, but such freedoms must be exercised with a sense of responsibility and consideration for national stability.
Darazo, a loyalist of President Bola Tinubu, argued that whenever statements by prominent political figures raise legitimate security concerns, the appropriate authorities should seek clarification through established legal and professional channels.
“This is not about persecution, intimidation or silencing the opposition. It is about responsibility. If a statement made by a prominent political actor has generated legitimate security concerns, the authorities have every right to seek clarification and establish the facts,” he said.
He maintained that the same standards should apply to politicians and supporters of both the ruling party and opposition, insisting that national security must not be used as a partisan instrument.
The APC chieftain also urged Melaye and other political leaders to exercise restraint in their public comments as preparations for the 2027 general elections intensify.
He said Nigeria had experienced enough political tension and should not allow campaign rhetoric to create an atmosphere of fear, confrontation or instability among citizens.
“Political disagreement is normal in a democracy. What is unacceptable is allowing political competition to gradually become a source of tension among citizens. We should sell our ideas, present our records and persuade Nigerians rather than create unnecessary anxiety,” Darazo said.
He further challenged opposition politicians to focus their campaigns on policies, programmes, leadership capacity and verifiable records rather than provocative statements capable of dominating public discourse.
Darazo insisted that supporters of President Tinubu were prepared for the 2027 political contest and would continue to defend the administration based on its policies, achievements and Renewed Hope Agenda.
“We are not afraid of opposition. We welcome competition. But competition must be democratic, peaceful and issue-based. President Tinubu will be judged by Nigerians based on his record, just as every opposition politician will be judged by the people based on what they offer,” he said.
He called on the DSS and other relevant security institutions to remain professional, impartial and guided by the law in handling politically sensitive statements.
He also appealed to all political actors to place Nigeria’s peace, unity and democratic stability above personal and partisan interests.
“The 2027 election should be a contest for the confidence of Nigerians, not a contest that puts the peace of Nigeria at risk. We can disagree politically without becoming enemies of the Nigerian state,” Darazo added.
