Bende Youths Warn Political Actors Against Heating Up Polity, Says Tension May Cause Voter Apathy

The Bende Youths Frontier, BYF, has issued a stern warning to political actors and youths in Bende Local Government Area to desist from heating up the political atmosphere ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a strongly worded statement on Sunday, the group decried what it described as deliberate attempts by some desperate politicians to destabilize the peace of Bende for selfish political gains.

The President of the Frontier, Comrade Dennis Ike, who signed the statement, said the LGA, known for its peace and unity, is being pushed to the edge by inflammatory rhetoric, intimidation and sponsored clashes.

“We have watched with deep concern the rising political tension in Bende. We will not fold our arms and watch desperate politicians turn our peaceful land into a theatre of war. Enough is enough,” Comrade Ike stated.

The group strongly advised citizens, particularly the youths, not to allow themselves to be used to foment trouble and disrupt the peace in the area.

According to Ike, the youth must resist being recruited as thugs and agents of violence, noting that those who use them today will abandon them tomorrow.

BYF further warned that if the current political tension and provocations are allowed to continue, it could erode public trust, confidence and political participation which will inevitably lead to voter apathy in 2027.

“Bende people must be allowed to freely choose their leaders without fear, intimidation or coercion. Any attempt to truncate that right will be resisted by the conscious youths of Bende,” the statement added.

The group called on security agencies, traditional rulers, and other stakeholders to intervene urgently before the situation degenerates, insisting that no ambition of any individual is worth the blood or peace of Bende.