The 2027 Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) Benue South Senatorial candidate, Daniel Onjeh, has appealed to his supporters, particularly young people, not to insult or attack his political opponents on his behalf ahead of the general elections.
Onjeh, a former Chairman of the Governing Board of the Projects Development Institute (PRODA), Enugu, said political differences should not turn brothers and sisters into enemies, urging his supporters to focus on issues, records and ideas rather than personal attacks.
He made the appeal while sharing photographs of himself separately with former Senate President, Senator David Mark, and Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro, both of whom he had contested against at different times.
According to him, he deliberately shared the photographs to demonstrate the importance of political tolerance, forgiveness and maintaining relationships beyond elections.
“I contested against Senator David Mark, and afterwards, we could still sit together. I contested against Senator Abba Moro, and afterwards, we could still sit together. They did not come to me; I went to them,” Onjeh said.
He urged his supporters to avoid responding to provocations from opponents, insisting that those who believe in his political principles should promote his record and ideas instead.
“As we prepare to commence our campaigns in the coming days, I want to make this very clear to everyone who believes in me: nobody should insult any of my opponents because of me. Nobody,” he said.
“If you believe in my principles and what I stand for, talk about the issues. Talk about my record, my ideas and what I propose to do differently.”
Onjeh recalled that an overzealous supporter of one of his opponents had once insulted his late mother during the heated 2016 Benue South senatorial rerun election.
He said despite being deeply hurt by the incident, he refused to retaliate.
“If there was anything capable of provoking me beyond measure, it was someone insulting my late mother. But I did not react. I am not asking my supporters to do something I have not practised myself,” he said.
He also recalled being falsely accused on social media of being HIV-positive, saying he chose to clear his name with evidence rather than trade insults with the person behind the allegation.
Onjeh said the experience reinforced his belief in forgiveness and the need to separate political disagreements from personal relationships.
“Some people have misunderstood my firmness on matters of principle for stubbornness. But disagreement is not disrespect,” he said.
He also recounted his legal battle with Moro following the 2023 Benue South senatorial election, which progressed from the Election Petition Tribunal to the Court of Appeal.
According to him, he rejected an approach by Moro to settle the matter outside court because he believed that doing so would compromise the trust placed in him by his supporters.
“I told Senator Moro that I would rather lose the case in court than sit at a table and compromise what I believed in,” he said.
Although the final judgment went against him, Onjeh said he later visited Moro, maintaining that political disagreement should not become personal enmity.
“Elections will come and go. Political platforms may change. Offices will change hands. But we will remain sons and daughters of the same Benue South,” he said.
Onjeh urged younger people in the senatorial district not to inherit political divisions from previous generations, saying candidates should present their records and proposals and allow voters to decide.
“There is no need for hatred. There is no need for insults,” he said.
“But don’t insult anyone because of me. And don’t inherit another person’s political disagreement as your personal war.”
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