Beatrice Gondyi Bauchi
Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, alongside religious and traditional leaders, has called for peaceful, inclusive and violence-free elections in 2027, urging Nigerians to reject divisive politics and embrace dialogue, tolerance and national unity.
The appeal was made during the 9th Interfaith Peace Conference and Award Presentation held at the Ahmadu Bello International Conference Centre, Bauchi.
The event, themed “Non-Violent Elections: The Role of Faith and Traditional Leaders in Nigeria,” was organised by the Interfaith Dialogue Forum for Peace (IDFP) in partnership with the International Dialogue Centre (KAICIID).
Represented by his Principal Private Secretary, Alhaji Hashimu Yakubu Kumbala, Governor Bala Mohammed said sustainable development can only thrive in an atmosphere of peace, justice and mutual trust.
He urged religious and traditional leaders to use their influence to discourage political violence, hate speech and divisive rhetoric while promoting peaceful participation in the democratic process.
According to the governor, both Islam and Christianity uphold the sanctity of human life and advocate compassion, justice and peaceful coexistence. He noted that although Nigerians may differ in religion or ethnicity, they face common challenges such as poverty, hunger and insecurity that require collective action rather than division.
He called on community and faith leaders to strengthen dialogue, reconciliation and tolerance within their communities and advocated the establishment of grassroots early-warning and response mechanisms to identify and resolve emerging conflicts before they escalate.
Governor Bala also encouraged interfaith collaboration on community development initiatives in healthcare, education and social welfare, saying such partnerships would deepen trust and strengthen national unity.
He said the Bauchi State Government has continued to invest in peacebuilding through seminars, workshops, capacity-building programmes and community development initiatives aimed at promoting social cohesion across the state.
Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Abdullahi Abubakar Lamido of the International Institute of Islamic Banking and Finance, Bayero University, Kano, described peaceful elections as the true measure of democratic maturity.
He warned that electoral violence often begins long before election day through hate speech, misinformation, political manipulation of religion, intolerance, poverty and injustice.
While election outcomes can be challenged through constitutional means, he stressed that lives lost during political violence can never be restored.
Dr. Lamido urged religious leaders to remain neutral, verify information before sharing it, reject inflammatory messages and consistently preach tolerance, truthfulness and respect for human dignity.
He added that transforming individual attitudes toward peace would ultimately produce peaceful communities, credible elections and a stronger democracy.
Also speaking, Rev. Dr. Zaka Ahuche of the Theological College of Northern Nigeria cautioned faith and traditional leaders against becoming instruments of division during the electioneering period.
Using the analogy of three cows separated through deceit before falling prey to a lion, he warned that communities become vulnerable when trust is destroyed by hatred and misinformation.
He reminded participants that violence does not discriminate on the basis of religion or ethnicity and urged leaders to uphold justice, responsible leadership and national unity.
Participants at the conference agreed that sustained collaboration among religious leaders, traditional institutions, government agencies and civil society organisations remains critical to ensuring peaceful, credible and inclusive elections in 2027.
The conference also honoured Governor Bala Mohammed and his wife, Hajiya Aisha Bala Mohammed, with Peace Awards in recognition of their commitment to promoting interfaith harmony and peaceful coexistence in Bauchi State.
The event ended with stakeholders reaffirming their commitment to expanding interfaith dialogue and community engagement, while organisers announced plans to convene town hall meetings across Bauchi State to strengthen trust among youths, religious groups and traditional institutions ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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