The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) governorship candidate for the 2027 Enugu State election, Prof. Jehu Onyekwere Nnaji, has called for an end to politically motivated attacks in the state, warning that violence has no place in a democratic contest and must not be allowed to define the emerging 2027 campaign season.
Prof. Nnaji made the call on Monday, September 21, 2026, in London, United Kingdom, in a statement marking the United Nations International Day of Peace, amid his ongoing multinational engagements across the United Kingdom, Italy, Ireland, the United States and Canada.
Reacting to reports of politically motivated attacks in Enugu as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 General Election, the NNPP candidate urged the Enugu State Government and security agencies to take decisive action against acts of political violence, regardless of the political party, candidate or interests allegedly connected to them.
He stressed that the protection of citizens and the preservation of peace should never be determined by political affiliation, insisting that every political party, candidate, supporter and citizen participating in lawful political activities deserves equal protection under the law.
According to Nnaji, “no one has a monopoly of violence and no one is immune to harm, as political attacks are like an ill wind that blows no one any good.”
The NNPP candidate maintained that political competition should be centred on competing visions, policies, ideas and development programmes capable of improving the lives of the people, rather than intimidation, threats, harassment or physical confrontation.
He urged political parties, candidates and their supporters to exercise restraint and resist every temptation to escalate political disagreements, while calling on security agencies to act professionally and impartially in preventing and responding to politically motivated attacks.
Nnaji said peace must remain the foundation of political discourse and electioneering in Enugu, stressing that the state must not allow the 2027 electoral process to degenerate into a contest characterised by fear, intimidation and violence.
He also warned individuals involved in political violence to desist, emphasizing that those who unleash violence cannot assume that its consequences will remain confined to their perceived opponents.
“Those behind political violence must desist from it. The perpetrators of violence are not immune to violence themselves, because they can as well become enmeshed in the ensuing inferno,” he warned.
The NNPP candidate, however, clarified that his warning was not a call for retaliation, but a caution against the dangerous cycle that can emerge when violence becomes part of political competition.
He explained that once violence is introduced into the political process, it can quickly become difficult for its initiators or sponsors to control, creating consequences that may extend beyond individual political disputes to communities, families, businesses and the wider economy.
Nnaji particularly charged the state government and security agencies to respond firmly and impartially to incidents of political violence, irrespective of the political party or political interest allegedly associated with such incidents.
He maintained that government has a responsibility to guarantee a secure democratic environment where citizens can attend political meetings, associate freely with political parties, campaign for candidates and express their political opinions without fear.
He equally called on political parties to caution their supporters against provocative conduct, retaliation and other actions capable of turning political disagreements into confrontation.
According to him, Enugu has an opportunity to demonstrate that political differences can be managed through dialogue, negotiation and democratic institutions rather than intimidation and violence.
Nnaji argued that the strength of a democratic contest should be reflected in the quality of ideas presented to voters, rather than the ability of political actors or their supporters to deploy force.
He therefore called for an electoral culture in which candidates are tested through public debates, policy alternatives, constructive criticism, public scrutiny and ultimately the ballot box.
The NNPP candidate also appealed particularly to youths across the state not to allow themselves to be recruited or manipulated into acts of political violence.
He stressed that the consequences of political instability rarely stop with those directly involved, noting that communities, families, businesses, students and the wider economy can all bear the cost when violence becomes entrenched.
His intervention comes as political activities continue to intensify across Enugu State, with political parties, aspirants and stakeholders increasingly positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Prof. Nnaji recently emerged as the governorship candidate of the NNPP for the 2027 Enugu State governorship election following a direct primary held in Enugu on Saturday, September 12, 2026.
Following his emergence, he unveiled a nine-point development agenda focused on security, economic revival, employment, education, healthcare, agriculture, infrastructure, workers’ welfare and grassroots development.
The Amurri-born scholar has maintained a longstanding interest in politics, governance and public service, with his political journey spanning multiple electoral contests.
His political history includes his 2019 senatorial ambition for Enugu East Senatorial District under the Kingship Party (KP), as well as his participation in the 2023 Enugu State governorship election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He subsequently stepped down from the 2023 governorship race in support of the incumbent Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, a decision he has described as being informed by political maturity and strategic considerations relating to stability.
His return to the 2027 political contest further places his academic experience, public-policy interests and political background within the unfolding debate over the future direction of Enugu State.
Prof. Jehu Onyekwere Nnaji is an academic, legal scholar and political figure whose professional profile spans international law, global politics, constitutional studies and public affairs.
He is identified with scholarship in international law and global politics, with academic interests extending to international relations, global governance and comparative constitutional law.
His professional engagements have also included activities within international legal and judicial circles, including reported engagements in The Hague, Netherlands, while his academic contributions have attracted international recognition, including a Merit Award associated with the University of Naples II, Italy.
Beyond academia, Nnaji has participated in institutional development and leadership processes within Nigeria, including consideration for Vice-Chancellorship positions in Nigerian universities, where he has advocated reforms in education governance, institutional restructuring and academic development.
His career trajectory combines international academic exposure, legal scholarship, institutional leadership and grassroots political engagement.
While the 2027 political season gathers momentum, Nnaji's latest intervention places peace, security and issue-based political engagement at the centre of his campaign message, while challenging political actors across the state to make the ballot box, rather than violence, the ultimate arena for political competition.