“An election is not a war, and a political opponent is not an enemy of the State” — Ubani, SAN

As Nigeria gradually moves towards the 2027 general elections, concerns are mounting over what appears to be a growing culture of political intolerance, with threats, intimidation, bullying and open hostility increasingly becoming part of the nation’s political conversation.

Against this backdrop, Senior Advocate of Nigeria and legal practitioner, Dr. Monday. O. Ubani, SAN, has issued a strong warning to politicians, political parties and their supporters, urging them to lower the political temperature and ensure that the country does not descend into violence and authoritarian tendencies in the pursuit of political power.

In a strongly worded intervention, Ubani said the emerging political atmosphere should concern every Nigerian, stressing that while political competition is an essential component of democracy, it must never degenerate into intimidation, hatred or violence.

According to him, the 2027 election must be about competing ideas, policies, programmes and records of performance, not threats, coercion or attempts to silence political opponents.

Ubani observed that although the 2027 campaign season is still gathering momentum, some of the language and conduct already being witnessed across the country suggest that political tensions are rising to dangerous levels.

He cited recent developments in Ebonyi State as one of the early warning signs.

According to him, the Governor of the state, while addressing newly sworn-in local government chairmen, was reported to have warned them against allowing electoral defeat in their respective constituencies.

Ubani noted that the message appeared to have been taken seriously by some of the beneficiaries of the new political order.

He referred to reports involving one of the newly sworn-in chairmen, Eze Paul Ituma of Ohaukwu Local Government Area, who was reported to have declared that he would not allow anyone to “take garri from his mouth”, while promising to do whatever was necessary to secure victory for his principal and political party.

“Whether such statements were intended as political rhetoric or something more sinister, they should neither be encouraged nor normalised in a democracy,” Ubani cautioned.

The legal practitioner also expressed concern over a recent reported incident involving the alleged denial of entry into a State to one of the presidential contenders ahead of the 2027 elections.

He said the development was particularly troubling because of what he described as the absence, so far, of a sufficiently convincing public explanation from the relevant authorities.

While acknowledging that the full facts surrounding the incident would need to be established, Ubani said it raises fundamental questions about the state of political tolerance in Nigeria.

“Are we becoming so intolerant of political opposition that we are prepared to deny our opponents even the basic freedom to visit a State in the Federation?” he asked.

He stressed that the question deserves a clear and convincing answer in a democratic society.

Ubani warned that Nigeria’s political history provides enough evidence of the devastating consequences of allowing political competition to degenerate into hatred and violence.

He recalled Operation Wetie in the South-West during the First Republic as one of the darkest examples of political violence in Nigeria’s history.

He also noted that the elections of 2011, 2015, 2019 and 2023 witnessed varying degrees of violence, threats, intimidation and loss of lives.

According to him, Nigeria should by now have learnt the painful lessons of its past and should not repeat them.

“There are minimum requirements for democratic conduct,” he stressed.

He explained that political opponents could disagree fiercely over policies, principles and ideology. They could challenge each other’s records, expose failures and campaign vigorously for the support of the electorate.

However, he emphasised that there must be limits to political competition.

“We must not descend below those limits.”

Ubani reminded politicians that political power is temporary, while the consequences of political violence can remain with society for generations.

“Nigeria is bigger than any political party or any election,” he said.

He therefore urged political actors to remember that political office is not permanent and that those who occupy positions of authority today may become opposition figures tomorrow.

“One thing remains clear, political office is temporary. The consequences of political violence, however, can last for generations,” he stated.

He consequently called on politicians to embrace the fundamental principle that “an election is not a war, and a political opponent is not an enemy of the State.”

The Senior Advocate urged political parties and candidates to make issues, performance and policy alternatives the centrepiece of their campaigns.

According to him, Nigerians deserve to hear what those currently in office have achieved during their tenure and what those seeking to replace them intend to do differently.

He said the electorate should be presented with competing ideas, credible policies, practical programmes and verifiable evidence of performance.

“Let those with the best argument and agenda win and let the better programme prevail. It is the people that should have the final say,” he stated.

He warned against any attempt to intimidate voters, silence opponents, restrict legitimate political activities or create an environment where violence becomes the price of political participation.

Importantly, Ubani stressed that his warning was not directed at any particular political party or section of the country. “It applies to everybody,” he said.

Ubani also extended his warning to political supporters, stressing that loyalty to a politician should not translate into hostility towards political opponents.

He argued that defending a candidate does not require threatening or intimidating those who disagree with that candidate.

“Your political mobilisation is to persuade, and not to terrorise,” he declared.

He urged supporters to stop fuelling tensions and engineering crises in the name of winning elections, warning that those who ignite political fires often mistakenly believe they will be able to control the consequences.

“Once the fire starts, it does not ask which political party you belong to before consuming you,” he warned.

Dr. Ubani called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, political parties, civil society organisations, religious leaders, traditional rulers and ordinary citizens to work collectively towards ensuring peaceful, credible and competitive elections in 2027.

However, he maintained that the greatest responsibility lies with politicians seeking political power.

He said anyone seeking to govern in a democracy must demonstrate the capacity to tolerate opposing views.

“If they cannot tolerate their opponent, then they are not ready to govern in a democracy,” he warned.

“And if they cannot allow their opponent to speak, then they have no moral basis to demand that Nigerians should listen to them.”

Ubani advised politicians to campaign vigorously, disagree passionately and hold one another accountable, but urged them to base their arguments on facts, evidence and ideas.

He said candidates should be free to expose failures, defend achievements and present alternative visions for the country without resorting to threats or intimidation.

“Please, let us not destroy the country in our desperate quest to govern it,” he appealed.

He noted that despite its numerous imperfections, Nigeria has managed to sustain democratic governance since 1999.

For that reason, he said the country must not now abandon the minimum standards of democratic behaviour that have helped to keep the Republic together.

He called for an immediate end to political intimidation, threats and bullying, describing the situation as a matter requiring urgent attention.

Ubani’s intervention comes at a critical moment when political activities are gradually intensifying ahead of the 2027 general elections.

His central message is clear, Political power must be pursued through persuasion, performance and ideas not intimidation, violence or suppression of opposition.

For Nigeria, the stakes are bigger than any individual candidate, political party or electoral contest.

The country has endured the consequences of political violence in the past and cannot afford to repeat those mistakes.

As the political class prepares for another fiercely contested electoral cycle, Ubani’s warning serves as both a plea and a challenge.

Fight for your ideas. Defend your record. Expose your opponent’s failures. Present a better alternative. But do not set Nigeria on fire in the process.

Nigeria must not descend.

— Dr. M. O. Ubani, SAN
Legal Practitioner/Policy Analyst

ADC Reps Candidate Challenges Opponents to Debate, Defend Records as He Unveils Development Vision for Obingwa, Osisioma and Ugwunagbo

The race for the House of Representatives seat representing Obingwa, Osisioma and Ugwunagbo Federal Constituency may be heading for a bruising political battle, as the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Barrister Kelechi Ozioma Onyeobia, has thrown down the gauntlet to his opponents, declaring that the era of politics built solely on party structures, political alliances and name recognition is over.

In a blunt challenge that could reverberate across the constituency, Onyeobia told rival candidates to “save their money and withdraw immediately,” insisting that the electorate had become too politically conscious to be persuaded by conventional campaign tactics.

According to him, what will ultimately determine the election is not the size of a candidate’s political machinery but the strength of his message, the credibility of his vision and, most importantly, his record of service to the people.

“What we are selling at the moment is a message. What we are selling is a vision. The message and the vision would drive the votes.”

The ADC candidate spoke with remarkable confidence about his chances, rejecting the language of uncertainty often associated with political campaigns.

“I do not think I will win the election. I know I will win the election.”

He went further, predicting that the election would effectively be decided in December rather than January.

At the heart of Onyeobia’s argument is his belief that the electorate has undergone a political awakening.

He argued that years of hardship, unfulfilled promises and disappointing political experiences have changed the way voters assess candidates.

For him, party affiliation alone can no longer persuade voters who are increasingly demanding answers about what candidates have actually done and what they intend to accomplish.

“Our people have become wise. Our people have suffered enough. Alliances, parties, attachments are no longer selling. People have seen what they have done to us.”

The statement represents a direct assault on the traditional political formula in which established names, party structures and alliances often dominate electoral contests.

Onyeobia believes the new political currency is performance, credibility and vision.

The ADC candidate has also placed a challenge before the electorate itself, ask difficult questions before handing over political power.

He urged constituents to confront every candidate with questions about their personal history, previous accomplishments and capacity to deliver.

“Ask them, what will you do for me? What have you done in the past? What qualifies you to be a member of the House of Representatives representing this great constituency?”

He said voters should not be satisfied with campaign speeches filled with promises of what a candidate will do after election.

Instead, candidates should be judged by what they have already done with the opportunities they have had.

The argument is central to Onyeobia’s campaign narrative, past performance should be the strongest evidence of future performance. But Onyeobia did not stop at criticism.

He issued a direct invitation to his political opponents to sit across the table with him for a public debate.

He proposed a forum where candidates would answer questions from journalists, constituents and, potentially, one another on their records, experiences, accomplishments and plans for the federal constituency.

“I want us to have a debate. I want us to have a forum where all of us can sit down, answer questions from the press on our history, on our records, how we have used our adult lives, and what impact each of us has had on our community.”

He said the debate would provide voters with an opportunity to distinguish between political ambition and genuine public service.

For Onyeobia, electioneering should be more than rallies, posters, political caps and slogans.

It should be a conversation about the future of the people.

Perhaps the most significant aspect of Onyeobia’s manifesto is his decision to place his own record under scrutiny.

While unveiling his agenda, he pointed to several initiatives associated with his community interventions, including educational support, youth empowerment, healthcare assistance, infrastructure and security related projects.

He highlighted the work of the Onyeka Foundation, which, according to him, started in 2017 with only nine students but has grown to support more than 250 students.

He presented the expansion as evidence of what he described as the power of sustained investment in human capital.

He also cited youth empowerment programmes, provision of a borehole and other community oriented initiatives.

Among the projects he referenced were the construction of a security post, provision of CCTV infrastructure and renovation of buildings, including the conversion of facilities into a library and science laboratory.

Onyeobia’s political argument appears to rest on a simple proposition, if an individual can deliver at the community level, that experience can be scaled up through legislative representation.

Reflecting on his previous leadership experience, he explained how his involvement in community organisations shaped his philosophy of service.

He said leaving leadership positions in some of those organisations gave him the opportunity to pursue a broader vision of bringing people together, identifying their needs and developing practical responses.

That philosophy, he suggested, now forms part of the foundation of his federal constituency agenda.

Women and young people also feature prominently in the manifesto unveiled by the ADC candidate.

Onyeobia outlined skills acquisition initiatives aimed at helping young people develop practical competencies that can translate into employment and economic independence.

He also highlighted a proposed healthcare assistance programme for indigent women.

According to him, the initiative would initially target 50 indigent women, providing financial assistance to beneficiaries facing medical bills.

The concept, he explained, is not simply about giving temporary assistance but creating a sustainable mechanism capable of supporting vulnerable members of the constituency.

Employment creation also occupies a prominent place in Onyeobia’s vision. He said a major responsibility of an elected representative should be to use the influence and opportunities available through public office to open doors for constituents.

He proposed a transparent process through which employment opportunities would be communicated to constituents and beneficiaries selected on clear criteria.

His argument is that political representation should translate into real economic opportunities for ordinary people. Rather than employment opportunities being treated as personal favours or political rewards, he said the process should be structured so that constituents can genuinely benefit.

As he rounded off his message, Onyeobia painted a picture of a constituency moving into what he described as a new era of result oriented governance.

He rejected what he described as the familiar political language of “I will,” “I shall” and “I promise you,” arguing that voters deserve something more concrete.

“The future is bright. The expectation of result oriented governance is here. It is no longer, ‘I will, I shall, I promise you.’” His message was clear, candidates should come before the people with evidence, not merely promises.

With the political atmosphere already beginning to heat up ahead of the 2027 elections, Onyeobia’s intervention injects a distinctly confrontational tone into the contest for the Obingwa, Osisioma and Ugwunagbo Federal Constituency.

His decision to challenge his opponents to a public debate could place pressure on other candidates to similarly expose their records and articulate their programmes.

Whether his confidence will translate into electoral victory remains a matter for the voters.

But one thing is already clear, Barr. Kelechi Ozioma Onyeobia intends to make the contest a referendum on records, vision and measurable service.

And with his declaration that his opponents should “save their money and withdraw,” the ADC candidate has made his position unmistakable.

The campaign for Obingwa, Osisioma and Ugwunagbo has begun and Onyeobia is not merely asking for the votes. He is challenging his opponents to prove they deserve them.

Former NBA Vice President challenges women to transform their God given abilities into instruments of faith, family, Church and societal development

Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Dr. Monday Onyekachi Ubani, SAN, has charged women of the Anglican Diocese of Egbu, Owerri, to draw their strength from Christ and deploy their God given gifts, talents and influence towards strengthening the Church, nurturing families and transforming society.

Ubani gave the charge while delivering the keynote address titled “The Source of Our Strength” at the Annual Women’s Conference of the Anglican Diocese of Egbu, held at St. John’s Anglican Church, Naze, Owerri, Imo State.

Drawing his message from Philippians 4:13 — “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” the legal luminary cautioned Christians against interpreting the popular biblical passage as a declaration of human self-sufficiency or an assurance that believers would be exempted from hardship.

Rather, he explained that the scripture represents a profound testimony to the sufficiency of God’s grace, emphasising that the strength required to navigate life’s challenges ultimately comes from God.

According to Ubani, Christian strength should not be measured by the absence of weakness, difficulties or vulnerability. Instead, genuine strength is demonstrated by the ability of a believer to remain firmly anchored in Christ regardless of the circumstances confronting them.

He noted that women, in particular, often shoulder numerous responsibilities, serving simultaneously as mothers, wives, professionals, entrepreneurs, church workers, caregivers and community leaders.

Against this background, he urged the women not to believe that they must personally manufacture the strength required to overcome every challenge that comes their way.

“Christ does not always remove the burden; He strengthens the bearer,” Ubani declared.

He explained that although God may sometimes change difficult circumstances, there are occasions when He chooses instead to give believers the grace, courage and resilience required to endure those circumstances and emerge victorious.

The former Vice President of the Nigerian Bar Association challenged the women to ensure that their strength and accomplishments are directed towards meaningful service rather than merely personal advancement.

He encouraged them to move beyond the pursuit of individual success and become instruments of positive transformation within their homes, churches and communities.

According to him, the Church needs women whose strength is guided by wisdom, character, discipline and faith, women who can raise Godly children, build stronger marriages and families, mentor younger generations, support vulnerable members of society and contribute significantly to the growth and development of the Church.

He stressed that influence becomes more valuable when it is used to lift others and create lasting positive impact.

Ubani also urged the women to remain permanently connected to their divine Source through prayer, regular study of the Word of God, worship, fellowship and dedicated Christian service.

He emphasised that disconnecting from the Source of spiritual strength could leave believers vulnerable when confronted with the pressures and uncertainties of life.

The conference also featured a special celebration in honour of the Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Egbu, Rt. Rev. Geoffrey Enyinnaya Okorafor, and his wife, Mama Egbu, Mrs. Ngozi Chioma Okorafor, as the Diocese marked their preparatory retirement and celebrated their years of dedicated service.

The occasion provided an opportunity for members of the Diocese and other distinguished guests to acknowledge the couple’s contributions to the growth and administration of the Church.

The conference was principally organised by Her Worship, Mrs. Maureen Onyewotu, a retired Chief Magistrate of the Imo State Judiciary and Chancellor of the Anglican Diocese of Egbu, in collaboration with Lady Ngozi Naze and other members of the organising team.

Beyond its religious significance, the gathering also produced a memorable reunion of old classmates from the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus.

Mrs. Onyewotu and Dr. Ubani were classmates at the University between 1985 and 1989, making the conference an opportunity for the two former classmates to reconnect decades after their university days.

The reunion was further enriched by the presence of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Ngozi Olehi, and Chief Kelvin Mbawuike, who were also classmates of Ubani and Mrs. Onyewotu during their university years.

Their reunion added a personal and nostalgic dimension to an event otherwise centred on faith, service and leadership.

The conference also attracted a wide range of distinguished personalities, including women from across the Diocese, serving and retired magistrates, Justices of the courts and lawyers associated with the Anglican Church.

The strong representation from the legal and judicial community underscored the significance of the gathering and reflected the longstanding professional, ecclesiastical and personal relationships among several of the attendees.

The presence of legal practitioners and judicial officers also gave the event a distinctive professional dimension, with many participants sharing long standing associations with the keynote speaker and the principal organisers.

In his concluding remarks, Ubani reminded the women that their ultimate identity and source of strength should never be rooted in material possessions, positions, relationships, status or personal accomplishments.

He urged them instead to anchor their lives firmly in Christ, whom he described as the enduring source of strength for every believer.

“The testimony of the Christian woman is not, ‘Look how strong I am,’ but, ‘Look what God has enabled me to become,’” he declared.

The statement drew the message of the conference to a powerful conclusion, as Ubani called on the congregation to affirm the charge with a resounding “Amen.”