As preparations for the 2027 general elections gather momentum, civil society groups and women advocates in Nigeria have launched a campaign known as Thumb Not Fist, aimed at discouraging electoral violence and promoting peaceful participation in the democratic process. The initiative is being presented as a call to citizens to settle political contests at the ballot box rather than through confrontation.
Organisers say the campaign is designed to encourage civic engagement and strengthen peaceful coexistence ahead of the polls. Its central message is that it is the thumb, used to cast a vote, and not the fist, that should shape the country's political future, a framing intended to steer young people and communities away from violence during the election period.
Speaking at the launch, Legacy Executive Director Kaltumi Abdulaziz, who was represented by communications advisor Jeffrey Umogbae, urged Nigerians to use their votes, not violence, to determine the direction of the country. She called for stronger electoral security and for wider participation by citizens in the coming elections.
According to the organisers, the campaign also seeks to protect election-related materials and prevent any compromise of the process, while ensuring that voters are able to cast their ballots without fear or intimidation. The emphasis was placed on safeguarding both the integrity of the vote and the safety of those taking part.
Also speaking at the event, the chairperson of FIDA Kaduna, Olufunke Bamikole, urged citizens to maintain confidence in the electoral system and to actively participate in choosing credible leaders. She called for measures to curb vote-buying and ballot-box snatching, practices that have long undermined trust in Nigerian elections.
The campaign comes as the Independent National Electoral Commission says it is fully ready to conduct a transparent, credible and acceptable election. The commission recently carried out a mock accreditation exercise in areas including Ado and Ikere-Ekiti to test the efficiency of the machines to be used during the election and to confirm that all systems are functioning effectively ahead of the poll.