The Director-General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, has warned political actors against actions and utterances capable of heightening tensions and threatening Nigeria’s democracy ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Sulaiman gave the warning while featuring on the Newsmen Personality Interview Series on Sunday in Abuja.

He urged politicians to focus on issue-based campaigns and promote an inclusive political culture, cautioning against divisive rhetoric and statements capable of threatening national unity.

“As electioneering activities gather momentum for the 2027 general elections, NILDS is finalising plans to convoke a political communication summit to address the issues of political communications, including utterances and campaigns.

“Our appeal is that our campaign utterances should be issue-based. We should avoid vulgar statements. We should avoid statements that could set the country on fire.

“Our appeal to our politicians is that we should not be under any illusion that everything is okay. We should protect this democracy through our conduct, through our political culture,” he said.

Sulaiman also urged political parties and their candidates to promote inclusive politics by giving greater opportunities to women, youths and vulnerable groups.

“We should play politics of inclusivity. The youth must be involved; our women must be involved; people that are vulnerable must be involved,” he said.

The NILDS boss urged politicians to be mindful of their actions and utterances, warning against conduct that could threaten national unity.

“We should not push some actors to the wall for them to react. We should guide democracy jealously,” he said.

Sulaiman acknowledged the challenges facing Nigeria’s democracy but maintained that democracy remained preferable to military rule.

“The country is evolving; our democracy is evolving and it’s better for all of us to keep on disagreeing than for us to take recourse to the military.

“However bad democracy is, it’s still better than the best of the military,” he stated.

He also urged Nigerians not to lose faith in the country or its democratic system, saying Nigeria had the human and natural resources needed to become a leading nation in Africa.

Sulaiman said the country’s challenges could be addressed through dialogue, compromise and mutual understanding rather than a return to military rule.

“Let’s face it through dialogue; let’s face it through concession; let’s face it through understanding, not to say we have to go back to the military.

“I still have hope in this country, and my appeal to all of us is that we should try to keep that hope alive. We can still get it right and we shall get it right some day,” he said.

The NILDS director-general said his optimism about Nigeria’s future remained rooted in his faith, urging citizens and leaders to remain hopeful.

“My optimism is in God, and God will never abandon us, nor will He abandon our leaders. Let’s keep hope alive,” he said.