The Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, has called on political parties and their candidates to conduct their campaigns for the 2027 general elections peacefully and orderly, in accordance with the Electoral Act, 2026 and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended.

Bamidele, who is also Chairman of the South-West Caucus in the National Assembly, made the call in his Independence Day message issued on Thursday by his Directorate of Media and Public Affairs to commemorate Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.

He urged political actors to exercise their political rights responsibly and avoid incendiary comments, hate speech and inflammatory rhetoric capable of undermining the electoral process or provoking political, ethnic or religious tensions.

According to him, while every political actor has the constitutional right to participate in the democratic process and pursue political ambitions, such rights must be exercised within the confines of the law.

The Senate Leader said the forthcoming electoral campaigns should be guided by democratic values, civility and patriotism rather than rhetoric capable of threatening national peace and stability.

“Political rights at this defining moment should be guided by the rules of the electoral contest and not by the rules of the jungle. While every aspiration is legitimate in a democracy, it should be pursued with decorum, patriotism and utmost restraint,” he said.

Bamidele further cautioned that no political ambition should be allowed to undermine Nigeria’s unity and collective interests.

“No ambition is worth setting the nation ablaze. As we mark our 66th anniversary of political freedom and prepare for the 2027 elections, political parties and their candidates must conduct their activities within the ambit of the law,” he stated.

He said peaceful political engagement was consistent with the vision of Nigeria’s founding fathers to build a united, democratic and prosperous federation capable of playing a leading role in Africa and among Black people globally.

The Senate Leader urged political parties to ensure that their campaigns and policy platforms focus on issues that address the aspirations and welfare of Nigerians, rather than divisive rhetoric.

“Nigeria is our collective heritage. She is greater than the political ambition of any party or candidate. Our activities must be conducted to preserve our collective heritage and not destroy what we have sustainably built,” he added.

Bamidele also called on parties and candidates to ensure that their campaign activities comply with the rules governing the electoral process as they engage voters across the country.

He said the agenda presented by political parties during the 2027 electioneering period should reflect the aspirations of Nigerians and remain consistent with the broader national interest.

The Independent National Electoral Commission has published its framework and guidelines for political parties ahead of the 2027 elections, including provisions governing the conduct and timing of political campaigns.

Vice President Kashim Shettima has returned to Nigeria after representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, United States.

Shettima departed Abuja on September 20 to lead Nigeria’s delegation to the annual global gathering, according to a statement issued on Monday by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Stanley Nkwocha.

During the visit, the Vice President delivered President Tinubu’s national statement at the General Debate, where Nigeria called for reforms to the UN Security Council, including permanent African representation.

He also advocated stronger global financing, increased climate support and deeper multilateral cooperation.

Shettima participated in the Third High-Level Roundtable of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group, where President Tinubu urged African countries to move beyond exporting raw minerals by investing in processing, manufacturing and value addition.

At an education financing event co-hosted by Nigeria and Italy, the Vice President reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to education and supported the Global Partnership for Education’s $5 billion financing campaign.

He also met with Nigerians in the Diaspora, highlighting their potential contributions through investment, expertise and professional networks.

Other engagements included meetings with the new leadership of the ECOWAS Commission and UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed.

Shettima has since returned to Nigeria following the engagements.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has dismissed speculation over a leadership vacuum in Nigeria, insisting that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains in charge of the country despite his continued stay abroad.

Akpabio spoke on Tuesday in Akwa Ibom State while inaugurating road projects executed by Governor Umo Eno. His comments came amid public debate over Tinubu’s extended working vacation and the simultaneous absence of Vice-President Kashim Shettima, who is attending the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

The Senate President also rejected suggestions that he was currently acting as President, stressing that Tinubu remained in office and continued to direct the affairs of government.

“I am not the acting president, because the president is still in power. The president is on a working leave. So, there’s no absence in Aso Rock,” Akpabio said.

According to him, Tinubu can continue to discharge his responsibilities from abroad through modern communication technology.

“The world has become a global village; you can give instructions from the internet about anything, so why are people complaining?” he said.

Akpabio also cited Tinubu’s recent diplomatic engagements, including his interaction with French President Emmanuel Macron, as evidence that the President remains actively involved in official duties while abroad.

Addressing Tinubu’s absence from the UN General Assembly, Akpabio said Vice-President Shettima had represented Nigeria at the gathering.

He further insisted that there was no vacancy in the presidency, stating that Tinubu remained in control of the country’s affairs.

“Right now, there is no vacancy. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is still in power and is still running the affairs of Nigeria,” he said.

Akpabio’s remarks come amid renewed public and political debate over the constitutional implications of the President’s extended absence from Nigeria, particularly with Shettima also outside the country.

The Presidency had announced that Tinubu’s working vacation, which began on August 30, had been extended by a few days, with his return expected at the weekend.

The development has continued to attract differing political interpretations, with some opposition figures questioning the arrangements for the exercise of presidential powers during the President’s absence. Akpabio, however, maintained that there is no presidential vacancy and that Tinubu remains in charge.