The National Association of Nigerian Students has warned political aspirants and their supporters in Oyo State against actions capable of threatening the state’s peace ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
The association specifically expressed concern over a reported protest by supporters of an All Progressives Congress governorship aspirant, Senator Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli, during which Governor Seyi Makinde was allegedly blamed for the senator’s failure to provide empowerment and other constituency benefits.
NANS described the reported development as a misdirection of public accountability, insisting that elected officials should be held responsible for their respective constitutional duties.
The warning was issued on Monday in Ibadan during a press briefing addressed by the association’s National Financial Secretary, Comrade Alao John Oluwadamilola, alongside the General Secretary of NANS Southwest Zone D, Comrade Ojetola Babatunde Yussuf, popularly known as TOYYEM, and the Chairman of NANS Joint Campus Council, Oyo State, Comrade Uthman Olawale Abdul-Azeez, also known as Industry.
Alao said political ambitions ahead of the 2027 elections must not be allowed to jeopardise the peace the state had enjoyed in recent years.
“Oyo State must not become a theatre of political desperation ahead of the 2027 elections. The peace we have enjoyed in this state over the past seven years must not be sacrificed on the altar of personal ambition or partisan rivalry,” he said.
He questioned the rationale behind holding Makinde responsible for the performance of a federal lawmaker, arguing that governors and senators occupy different offices with distinct constitutional responsibilities.
“If constituents believe that their senator has not done enough, they should demand answers from the senator and assess his record. A governor must not be turned into a convenient scapegoat simply because the performance of another elected official is being questioned. Public office is a responsibility, not a licence to shift blame,” Alao added.
The NANS official, however, acknowledged citizens’ rights to peaceful protests and political expression, stressing that such freedoms should not be used to mislead the public, heighten political tensions or create hostility between residents and public officials.
He said opposition politics should be driven by credible alternatives, policy proposals and constructive scrutiny rather than narratives that evade accountability.
Also speaking, Yussuf warned political aspirants against allowing their ambitions to threaten the state’s stability, insisting that the 2027 election should not become a justification for actions capable of disrupting public peace.
“The 2027 election is not a licence to destabilise Oyo State. Citizens have every right to question their leaders, but accountability must be directed appropriately and pursued responsibly.
Political competition should be based on ideas, performance and credible programmes, not attempts to inflame passions or mislead the public,” he said.
The student leaders maintained that Makinde’s administration, like those of other public officials, remained open to legitimate criticism but insisted that such scrutiny should be based on verifiable facts and responsibilities within the governor’s mandate.
In his remarks, the Oyo State Chairman of NANS JCC, Abdul-Azeez, urged political actors to protect the state’s atmosphere of peace as preparations for the next election gathered momentum.
“Oyo State must remain peaceful before, during and after the 2027 elections. Political disagreements must not become an excuse for hostility, intimidation or disruption of everyday life. We urge all aspirants to put the welfare of the people first,” he said.
The association also called on political parties and their supporters to focus on issues affecting residents, including education, employment, healthcare, security, infrastructure and youth development.
It warned against using young people as instruments of political hostility, urging them instead to demand accountability through lawful and democratic means.
NANS maintained that no individual, political party or electoral ambition should take precedence over the collective interest of Oyo State, urging aspirants to exercise restraint, avoid inflammatory rhetoric and respect the rights and welfare of residents.
It added that the 2027 election should be a contest of ideas, records and credible solutions rather than blame-shifting and political division.
