As political activities gather momentum ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general election, a political pressure group, Rivers Women Unite for SIM, has called on politicians and their supporters to shun violence and embrace peace, warning that no election victory is worth the loss of human lives.
The group made the appeal during its October Thanksgiving prayer programme, themed “Peace Be Still,” in Port Harcourt, State capital, where members expressed gratitude for the prevailing peace in the state and called for its sustenance before, during and after the forthcoming elections.
Speaking at the gathering on Thursday, Ann Inimgba, a member of Rivers Women Unite for SIM, said the group’s monthly prayer meetings, held on the last Thursday of every month, were aimed at seeking divine intervention and sustaining peace and stability in the state.
According to her, the group considers peace essential to the continued unity and development of Rivers State, particularly as the country approaches another electoral cycle.
“The peace that has come to Rivers State, let God sustain it. That is why we are here to thank God. We always gather every month, on the last Thursday, to thank God for the continuous presence of God in our state,” she said.
Inimgba noted that the political tensions experienced in Rivers State could have plunged the state into disintegration but for what she described as divine intervention and the persistent prayers of residents.
She urged politicians and their supporters to accept electoral outcomes in good faith, stressing that political contests should not become a reason for bloodshed or the destruction of lives and property.
“For the forthcoming election, just as we have said, we are asking for peace. Not everybody will win an election at the same time. Life is one person at a time. So, if it is not your turn now, be hopeful that tomorrow, with life, it will come your way,” she said.
The group emphasised that the safety of families and communities must take precedence over political ambitions, warning against the use of violence as a means of securing electoral victory.
“During this election, we don’t want any bloodshed. We don’t want to lose our children anymore. We don’t want to lose our husbands. We don’t want to run helter-skelter. We want peace in Rivers State, and whoever the Lord chooses, let God’s name be glorified,” she added.
Also speaking, Dr. Queen Karibi Botoye, said the theme, “Peace Be Still,” reflected the group’s commitment to promoting peace and encouraging residents to remain hopeful amid political uncertainties.
She described the theme as a call for calm in the face of political tension, urging the electorate to reject violence and resist attempts by political actors to use them as instruments of electoral conflict.
“Peace Be Still is a word from the Lord. In the midst of every chaos, trust God. It is God that brings the stillness and the peace, no matter the storm,” Botoye said.
She attributed the group’s continued prayers to its commitment to peace in Rivers State, adding that the same spirit should guide political activities leading to the 2027 general election.
“We want everyone to carry that same peace to the forthcoming election. Let it be a very peaceful election. Nobody should be used as a tool for violence,” she said.
Botoye disclosed that the group was also preparing for its 2026 women’s conference, which she described as a major gathering aimed at mobilising women to pray for peace, stability and development in Rivers State.
According to her, more than 10,000 women participated in the previous edition, while the group is targeting over 20,000 participants for the forthcoming conference.
She said the gathering would provide an opportunity for women to unite in prayer and promote a peaceful atmosphere capable of supporting the state’s political stability and progress.
“We are going to have over 20,000 women gathering for the sake of the peace of Rivers State, stability in Rivers State, and to ensure that Rivers State moves forward,” she said.
Botoye expressed the belief that the conference would contribute to the state’s development, maintaining that women had a critical role to play in promoting peace, unity and responsible political participation.
In an interview with Journalists, Dr. Florence Itamunoala, a former chairperson of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Rivers State Branch, expressed optimism about the forthcoming women’s conference, describing it as an opportunity for women to come together in faith and fellowship.
She said the gathering would offer participants an opportunity to experience spiritual renewal and blessings, expressing confidence that the event would be meaningful to women across the state.
Blessing Ibunge
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