The Federal Commissioner of the Public Complaints Commission in Ogun State, Morakinyo Akinleye, has called on politicians and their supporters to commit to peaceful, issue-based campaigns as preparations quietly build toward the 2027 general elections.

Akinleye, who serves as the state’s ombudsman, said the tone of early political activities would significantly shape public trust in the electoral process. He urged aspirants, parties and campaign organisations to prioritise ideas over insults and programmes over propaganda, warning that toxic rhetoric could erode confidence in democratic institutions.

Describing Ogun as a long-standing “beacon of intellectualism, progressive thought and political maturity” in Nigeria, Akinleye said the state must continue to set the standard for civil, law-abiding political engagement. He referenced the legacies of past statesmen and the state’s reputation for robust but orderly debate as a model that current actors must uphold.

The commissioner stressed that campaigns should be anchored on concrete policy alternatives and measurable plans in critical sectors such as economic development, youth empowerment and employment, security, education, healthcare and infrastructure. Voters, he said, deserve to hear clearly articulated manifestos that address their daily realities rather than personal attacks or character assassination.

Akinleye cautioned against the use of ethnic or sub-ethnic sentiments as campaign tools, insisting that politics in Ogun must promote inclusiveness and unity. He warned that divisive rhetoric, misinformation and hate speech not only inflame tensions but also weaken the foundations of democracy.

He further appealed to party supporters, mobilisers and grassroots organisers to exercise restraint and discipline throughout the electioneering period. Political passion, he noted, must never degenerate into violence, intimidation, thuggery, vote-buying or any conduct capable of undermining the credibility of the polls.

Akinleye framed the coming electoral cycle as a test of Ogun’s democratic maturity, saying history would judge today’s political class not by the volume of their campaigns but by the stability they preserve and the future they secure. He urged all stakeholders to demonstrate that Ogun stands for enlightened politics and peaceful transitions, expressing hope that wisdom would guide leaders, restraint would guide supporters and peace would prevail across the state.