Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have warned the 2027 Enugu State governorship candidates of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and his counterpart in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to eschew making inflammatory statements.
The coalition, in a presentation read by Comrade Okpanachi Jacob, at a press conference in Abuja queried the decision of the opposition party governorship candidates, Chinyeaka Ohaa and Uche Nnaji, to hold political rallies at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport.
Operating under the auspices of Coalition of Civil Society for Good Governance, the group noted that; “It has observed with serious concern the rising political tension in Enugu State ahead of the 2027 general elections.”
“Coalition cautions NDC and PDP governorship candidates against inflammatory politics and demands issue-based campaigns, transparent records and verifiable answers
“We are particularly disturbed by attempts to associate the State governor, Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, with the incidents that occurred at the International Airport and outside the Enugu State secretariat of the NDC on Saturday, October 10, 2026, despite the absence of publicly established evidence directly connecting the governor to either incident,” the coalition noted.
Condemning the incident further, the coalition asked: “Several important questions that would be raised have remained unanswered.”
“The suggestion that a political rally was to be held at an international airport is deeply concerning. Regardless of the airport’s size or location, organising a political rally within such a sensitive environment is inconsistent with established standards and constitutes an unacceptable political practice.
“At the same time, questions must be raised regarding whether approval was granted by the relevant airport authorities, whose primary responsibility is to ensure the safety and security of the airport, its passengers, staff, and facilities.
“We therefore urge politicians and political actors to desist from smear campaigns and the dissemination of misleading information for political advantage. Such practices can confuse the electorates and prevent citizens from making informed choices during elections.
“As coalition of CSOs, we remain committed to protecting the public interest, promoting credible electoral processes, and serving as the conscience of our nation,” the group quipped.
While advising the gladiators, the coalition noted: “Opposition candidates seeking the mandate of the people of Enugu State must do more than issue inflammatory statements or attribute every political disturbance to the state government.”
“They must present credible, measurable and workable alternatives on education, healthcare, employment, security, infrastructure, investment, agriculture, public services and economic development. Enugu State deserves a contest of ideas, not a campaign of insinuation,” the group insisted.
On the flip side, the coalition however emphasised that Governor Peter Mbah is not above criticism, stressing that; “No elected official is. Citizens, opposition parties, journalists and public commentators have the right to question his policies, scrutinise public expenditure, demand transparency and challenge the decisions of his administration. Those democratic rights must be protected.
“However, criticism must be based on facts. Political disagreement does not justify demonisation, reckless historical comparisons or allegations unsupported by evidence. Individuals with access to large audiences carry a corresponding responsibility to avoid misinformation and inflammatory commentary.
“Enugu State does not need political rhetoric capable of provoking division or violence. It needs factual debate about governance, development and the future of its people,” the group noted.
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