The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP), has condemned the alleged killing of popular political commentator, former journalist and social media influencer, Ibrahim Khalil Dan Shagamu, at his residence in the Gaida, Kumbotso Local Government Area of Kano State.
The CNPP’s Deputy National spokesperson, James Ezema, in a statement, described Mr Shagamu’s as disturbing and unacceptable.
He said the violent attack must not be treated as an ordinary criminal incident without thoroughly investigating every possible motive.
Mr Ezema, while demanding “justice, not speculation; accountability, not cover-up; and a transparent investigation capable of establishing exactly what happened and why,” hailed the police for arresting suspects in connection with the killing.
He however insisted that investigation must go beyond identifying immediate suspects.
He said, “The authorities must establish the circumstances leading to the attack, the identities and networks of everyone involved, the motive, whether there was prior surveillance or planning, and whether the victim had received threats connected to his journalism or political commentary.
“Reports that Dan Shagamu had previously received anonymous death threats and had changed residence because of security concerns make it imperative that investigators examine all possible lines of inquiry.
“The CNPP notes that the police investigation must establish the facts, including whether the incident was connected to political silencing, robbery, a personal dispute or any other motive. However, the possibility of political motivation cannot simply be dismissed, especially when an outspoken political commentator is violently killed as the country approaches another fiercely contested electoral cycle.”
He warned that if citizens begin to believe that speaking openly about government and politics could cost them their lives, then democracy was under attack.
He added that no Nigerian should have to choose between exercising freedom of expression and staying alive.
The umbrella body of registered political parties and political associations in Nigeria, also expressed disgust at the alleged mounting of roadblocks along the Makurdi-Gboko road, by Benue State youths, to prevent the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, from visiting Yelwata, to commiserate with victims and families affected by the 2025 terrorist attacks.
The CNPP said democracy wouldn’t survive where political affiliation restricts movement, opponents treated as enemies of the state, or access to communities controlled by political actors.
It stated, “Nigeria belongs to all of us. No party or government has a proprietary right over any part of the federation.”
It urged security agencies to investigate and identify those who mounted the roadblock, and establish whether any political or official actors sponsored, facilitated or tolerated the action.
The group also frowned at pricy political advertising charges in some states, warning that Nigeria risks sliding into a political culture where intimidation, violence and money, determine who couldn’t participate meaningfully in democracy.
Mr Ezema said, “Recent reports indicate that Cross River has reportedly fixed ₦150 million for presidential campaign advertisements and ₦100 million for governorship advertisements, while Kogi has reportedly approved a ₦150 million presidential billboard tariff. Enugu has also reportedly required a ₦150 million campaign advertising permit for political parties and candidates.
“A democracy in which only candidates backed by enormous financial war chests can communicate effectively with voters is not one of equal opportunity. When candidates must spend tens or hundreds of millions of naira merely to access legitimate campaign advertising space, the system risks rewarding financial capacity rather than ideas, competence, character, integrity and capacity to govern.
“Candidates unable to afford such charges may be marginalised, while those backed by wealthy financiers gain disproportionate visibility. This could deepen the influence of moneybags, political godfathers and undisclosed financiers over candidates and elected officials, making public office holders more responsive to financiers than to ordinary citizens. That is precisely the opposite of the representative democracy Nigeria needs.
“Political advertising regulation should be transparent, reasonable, non-discriminatory and connected to legitimate regulatory objectives. It must not disproportionately disadvantage opposition parties, emerging movements, independent-minded candidates or those without enormous private resources.”
The CNPP urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, state signage and advertising agencies, political parties, civil society organisations and other stakeholders, to urgently examine the cumulative effect of the charges on the competitiveness of the 2027 elections.
“There must be clarity regarding their legal basis, calculation, payment, treatment as electoral expenditure for campaign-finance reporting and whether their application is genuinely neutral among parties and candidates,” it noted.
The CNPP stressed that political competition must be based on ideas and the ability to convince voters, not on who could afford the largest billboard tariff, command the greatest number of political thugs or intimidate the loudest opposition voices.
The CNPP warned that the killing of critics, obstruction of movements of political opponents and imposition of huge fees for political advertisements could produce a political environment where only the wealthy, powerful and politically connected were able to campaign, speak freely and compete effectively.
