The United Nations (UN) has warned all political parties including their leaders in Nigeria against hate speech ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Speaking at a high-level roundtable on “Ethical Hate-Free Politics in Nigeria” on Monday in Abuja, organized by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the United Nations, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Mr. Mohamed Malick Fall, warned that all parties must strictly adhere to democratic values and tenets.

Daily Trust reports that political parties have started maneuvering to win various seats in the 2027 elections. Following this, political leaders and their supporters have been engaging in a war of words on various media platforms in a scheme to outdo one another using hate speeches in the process.

Addressing representatives of various political parties and other stakeholders at the event, Mr. Fall stressed that democracy must be about inclusion, pluralism, and public participation of everyone respectfully.

He urged political parties to “lead by example” and make their campaigns about policies and ideas, not insults or divisive rhetoric.

“With the rise of digital platforms, hate speech travels faster and reaches wider audiences than ever before, this threatens not only political stability but also the dignity and safety of individuals,” he said.

The UN official emphasized the importance of information integrity, which he defined as the accuracy, consistency, and reliability of information – particularly during electoral processes, cautioning that unchecked falsehoods and inflammatory language can erode public trust and mislead voters.

He also charged political parties to adhere to the codes of conduct that reject hate speech and promote truthful, respectful dialogue, and collaborate with media and digital platforms to prevent the spread of harmful content while amplifying accurate information.

In his goodwill message, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, decried the increasing resort to inflammatory language in political discourse, saying the Commission would provide a level-playing field for all political parties and their candidates in the election.

Prof. Yakubu, who was represented by Mr. Sulaiman Ibrahim (SAN), explained that the success of elections depends on the conduct of political actors and their supporters.

The INEC chairman said ethical politics anchored on fairness, issue-based campaigns within the statutory time frame provided under Section 94(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, and mutual respect strengthen democracy, promote peaceful participation, and ensure that the will of the people truly prevails.

He said Section 92 of the Electoral Act, 2022, prohibits the use of hate speech, adding that Section 92(7) and (8) of the Act provide sanctions against political parties, aspirants, candidates, and their supporters for breach of the statutory provision.

The INEC boss called on political parties and their members to exercise restraints and embrace the provisions of the Electoral Act, particularly provisions constituting electoral offences and codes of conduct that encourage civility, tolerance, and mutual respect.

He said hate speech, often targeted at individuals or political opponents, has the potential to undermine national cohesion and peaceful participation in the electoral process, adding that unethical practices, misinformation, and divisive rhetoric threaten not only the credibility of elections but the unity, peace, and stability of the country.

In his remarks, the Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Dr. Tony Ojukwu (SAN), stressed the urgent need for political actors to embrace value-driven, inclusive, and rights-based politics, warning that the increasing normalization of hate speech and unethical political practices threaten the country’s democratic foundations.

Highlight of the roundtable was the NHRC’s announcement of a proposed “Charter on Ethical and Hate-Free Politics”, which political parties will be invited to sign. He explained that the Charter aims to foster a commitment to peaceful, inclusive, and people-centered democratic engagement. (Daily Trust)