By Musa Muhammad, Doma

In a bid to prevent political tension ahead of the 2027 general elections, stakeholders in Doma Local Government Area of Nasarawa State have held a security meeting aimed at promoting peace and finding lasting solutions to emerging political challenges.

The meeting, convened by the Chairman of Doma Local Government Council, Jonathan Okuba Addra, was held on Tuesday at the council secretariat in Doma.

It had in attendance members of the executive and legislative arms of the local government, security agencies, representatives of traditional and religious institutions, as well as leaders of political parties and various political groups.

Declaring the meeting open, Chairman Addra said the council was concerned about growing political tension among some political actors and the potential consequences for peace and security in the area.

He explained that the meeting was convened to bring stakeholders together to discuss the situation and agree on measures to prevent political differences from escalating into violence.

The chairman reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to respecting the political interests and rights of individuals, while stressing that all political activities must be conducted within the provisions of the law.

He urged political actors and their supporters to avoid actions capable of breaching public order, damaging property or undermining peaceful coexistence.

Also speaking, the Doma Divisional Police Officer, Abdurrahman Ahmad, clarified provisions of the law relating to malicious damage to property, public disturbance and other forms of political disorder.

The DPO and other security agencies reminded residents that the police must be duly notified before any public or political assembly, stressing that while peaceful assembly is a constitutional right, it must be exercised within the law.

They assured residents of their readiness to maintain peace and protect lives and property before, during and after the 2027 elections.

Representatives of the Jama’atu Nasril Islam, JNI, and the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, called for tolerance, unity and peaceful coexistence, urging political actors to place community interest above political differences.

The religious leaders also urged parents to ensure proper upbringing of their children, while calling on security agencies to intensify efforts to identify and bring to justice anyone attempting to disrupt peace.

Leaders of various political parties and groups, including the G13 and G20, pledged commitment to issue-based politics and promised to sensitise their members against inflammatory statements, violence, destruction of campaign materials and other acts capable of disrupting harmony.

At the end of the meeting, stakeholders resolved that political groups must properly notify the police before holding public or political assemblies and that anyone found destroying campaign posters, billboards or other property would be made to face the law.

They further pledged to work with security agencies and community leaders to ensure political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections are conducted peacefully and in accordance with the law.