Momoh warns politicians against ethnic, religious rhetoric ahead of 2027

Political parties and their supporters should keep ethnicity and religion out of the 2027 campaign, the chairman of Channels Media Group, Dr John Momoh, has said, warning that such appeals can turn a neighbour into a suspect.

Momoh spoke on Thursday in Yola, Adamawa State, at the 38th Dr Sam Epelle Gold Paper Lecture. His keynote was titled Narratives That Build Nations in Diversity: Public Relations Leadership and the Future of Nigeria.

At the same event, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri was unveiled as patron of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR).

With parties already building alliances and candidates making claims, Momoh said the contest for power is shaping public conversation. He argued that democracy needs debate and scrutiny, but disagreement should not become a licence to dehumanise.

Political opponents are not enemies of the nation.

He also warned that false allegations, manipulated videos and invented quotations can harden opinions before the facts are known. Leaders and public figures, he said, have the reach to calm a moment or inflame it, and should correct false claims made by their own supporters.

Inflation easing, but food still costly

On the economy, Momoh said families judge government promises at the kitchen table, weighing food, transport, rent, school fees, power and healthcare.

He cited World Bank figures showing Nigeria's real GDP grew by 4.2 per cent in the first half of 2026, and Central Bank data showing headline inflation eased to 14.63 per cent in September from 15.39 per cent in August.

But he cautioned that slower inflation still means prices are rising, just less quickly. A family that hears food is still more expensive is not being unreasonable, he said, and good leadership should explain the difference while working on what people actually feel.

Growth, he added, must show up as decent jobs, dependable public services and wages that can carry a household.

Security judged by daily life

Momoh said insecurity in Adamawa and the wider North-East has disrupted homes, farming, education and livelihoods. He called for better intelligence, equipment, training and coordination for security agencies, and for communities to trust that their reports will be heard.

He urged leaders to match words with action, saying citizens watch to see whether a promised road is built and whether relief reaches those who need it. A leader who admits and repairs a mistake, he said, can earn more trust than one who pretends it never happened.

He also praised the Fintiri administration's investment in roads, schools and healthcare facilities, asking for a clear account of what is done, what is ongoing and what remains.

What happens next: The 2027 campaigns are expected to intensify, and the tone parties set now will shape how Nigerians debate them.