By Our Correspondent
Ahead of the 2027 general elections, some Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) have urged politicians and political parties to abide by the Constitution, Electoral Act 2026 and party guidelines to ensure peaceful and credible elections.
The legal practitioners made the call at the weekend during a prayer session to mark the opening and dedication of a new office of Mr J.J. Usman, SAN, in Abuja.
Speaking at the event, Abdul Mohammed, SAN, urged members of the political class to demonstrate maturity and focus on issue-based campaigns before, during and after the elections.
Mohammed said politicians must avoid actions capable of undermining a peaceful, free and fair electoral process.
“We want a peaceful transition, a peaceful election. And as such, we will want politicians to play by the rules,” he said.
He urged politicians to shun what he described as “do-or-die” politics, stressing that the choice of the electorate must be respected.
According to him, Nigeria should demonstrate to the international community that it has matured democratically by ensuring peaceful elections and transition.
He said, “They should understand that it is the choice of the electorate that matters. So there should be no do-or-die affairs in the campaign that is going on.”
Also speaking, Jibrin Okutepa, SAN, said political actors must operate within the rules, insisting that the rule of law should remain supreme throughout the electoral process.
Okutepa urged politicians to allow Nigerians to freely determine who leads them, while opposing political imposition at the party, state or national levels.
“Politicians should allow the people decide who leads us in this country. We don’t want political imposition either at the party, state or national level,” he said.
The Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Abuja Branch, Yakubu Philemon, SAN, called on all stakeholders in the electoral process to play their respective roles fairly.
Philemon said political offices should be regarded as positions of service and urged candidates to make their campaigns issue-based rather than personal.
“As lawyers, we encourage them to first of all look at the fact that the position they are contesting for is to go and serve the people; it’s a position of service,” he said.
He advised candidates to focus on the challenges confronting the country and present practical solutions to them, saying such an approach could reduce post-election litigation.
Philemon also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure transparency and fairness in the conduct of elections, arguing that a credible process would make it easier for defeated candidates to accept the outcome.
Meanwhile, the lawyers congratulated Usman on the opening of his new office, describing the facility as a significant investment in legal practice and professional development.
Mohammed described the purpose-built edifice as a research centre, citing its extensive library and meeting facilities.
“In fact, you can call it a research centre; it has a very rich library, several meeting rooms and it shows how much senior advocates invest in the practice of law,” he said.
Okutepa described the building as “fantastic” and urged Usman to sustain his commitment to the legal profession with integrity, honesty and hard work.
Philemon also congratulated Usman, urging him to make the new office a platform for mentoring younger lawyers.
“Let the office be a platform for mentorship and the office to signify that more excellence is expected of him,” he said.
Chief Mrs Wendy Kuku, SAN, attributed Usman’s achievement to resilience, hard work and his commitment to his faith.
She said the new office was the result of Usman’s years of dedication and commended his wife for her support and prayers.
“Anybody who puts God first and backs it up with hard work and resilience, this is only the result,” Kuku said.
