• Afenifere urged politicians to make 2027 campaigns peaceful and issue-based
• The group warned against violence, thuggery and character assassination
• Afenifere expressed concern over worsening insecurity in Yorubaland and called on South-West governors to strengthen Amotekun and fast-track state police

Afenifere has urged politicians across Nigeria to make campaigns ahead of the 2027 general election issue-based and peaceful.

The pan-Yoruba group warned against violence, thuggery and character assassination during electioneering, saying political actors should focus on policies and national development.

The position was contained in a communique issued after the caucus meeting of the organisation held at the residence of its leader, Reuben Fasoranti, in Akure on Tuesday, April 14.

The communique, signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, also raised concerns over the worsening security situation across the country, especially in the South-West.

According to the group, South-West governors must take stronger action to tackle insecurity by improving surveillance, strengthening Amotekun and accelerating plans for state police.

It said, “The meeting deliberated on various issues affecting Yorubaland and Nigeria as a whole.”

Among the major issues discussed were security, the economy and the political climate as the 2027 election draws closer.

Afenifere said, “The meeting reviewed what is going on on the political terrain as we approach the 2027 general elections.”

The organisation stressed the need for peaceful campaigns, saying, “Afenifere then called on politicians and political players to go about their electioneering processes in a peaceful manner. Electioneering should be devoid of violence, thuggery and character assassination.”

The group also expressed worry over rising cases of insecurity in Yorubaland.

“The meeting, for the umpteenth time, expressed concern over the security situation in the country. Serious concern was expressed about the increasing terror acts in Yorubaland.

“It called on governors of the six states in the South West to take more decisive actions on insecurity that seems to be ravaging the land now. Part of the actions can be strengthening Amotekun, paying more attention to surveillance and expediting actions on the setting up of state police. These can be done in collaboration with governments of neighbouring states, especially Kwara, Kogi, Edo and Delta which also have sizeable Yoruba populations.”

The organisation acknowledged efforts by the Federal Government and the military to improve security but insisted more support is needed.

“The meeting took note of the steps by the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu on the security situation, including the meeting he held with security chiefs just on Monday. In the same vein, the meeting took note of the efforts of the military and other security agencies on security issues in the land. The military and other security agencies should be further strengthened with more equipment, morale boosting, enhancement of kinetic and non-kinetic security measures, etc.”

Afenifere also alleged that insecurity is being aided by internal collaborators within communities and called for closer scrutiny of such individuals.

“Government and security agencies, including the military, should look inward as insecurity continues to fester because there are internal collaborators. Such a searchlight should be beamed on local communities, as there are collaborators among them as well.”

He added, “By this, we mean unscrupulous people who are collaborating with kidnappers, bandits and terrorists. Confessions by some of the suspects that have been made public attested to this line of thinking. Afenifere seized the opportunity to also commiserate with the people who have been victims of terrorism in Yorubaland and in other parts of Nigeria.

“The organisation is highly disturbed by this and called on all concerned not to waste any more time in doing all that is humanly possible to put an end to what now appears to be a genocidal agenda. The body reiterates its call on South West governors to put into practical action the resolutions they made at several security meetings they have held in recent times.

“There is a need for them to carry the governors of Kwara and Kogi States along for the sake of Yorubas and other residents in these states and also because of the stretches of forests linking the said states, which bandits often use to carry out their dastardly acts.”

On restructuring, the group said it remains committed to its long-standing advocacy and aligned itself with the vision of President Tinubu.

“Restructuring has been a sing-song of Afenifere for a long time. The time has come to do something decisive on this. The body took note of the commitment of President Bola Tinubu to re-engineer Nigeria that everyone would be proud of. Afenifere is very much on the same page with Mr President on this. We believe that restructuring will greatly assist and hasten the realisation of this noble objective, hence our consistent advocacy for it.”

The meeting also announced plans for the centenary celebration of Fasoranti, who will turn 100 on May 11, 2026. Governors from across Yorubaland and other prominent individuals are expected to attend the event.

Afenifere, CAN, other groups reject push for Sharia law in Southwest

Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that leaders from the Christian and Muslim communities in the South-Western states of Nigeria were at odds over the planned inauguration of a Shari’a arbitration panel by the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (SCIA).

The move to establish the panel, which will serve the Muslim community in Ogun, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, Oyo, and Lagos, had sparked a heated debate, with proponents of the initiative insisting that there is no turning back on their plans.

The panel, intended to resolve disputes within the Muslim community, faced strong opposition from state governments and various leaders.

Dr. Hammed Bakare, President of the SCIA in Ekiti, and Dr. Rafiu Bello, Chairman of the Shari’a Committee of Oyoland, both confirmed that the panel would be inaugurated despite the backlash.