- A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has called for the immediate halt to early political campaigns in Nigeria
- Falana warned that the premature campaign is distracting leaders from governance and public service delivery
- He added that political actors are prioritising defections and campaigns over national responsibilities
- Falana also linked the rising insecurity, kidnappings and killings, to neglect of governance
Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has called for the immediate suspension of early political campaigns, warning that premature politicking is eroding governance and deepening insecurity across Nigeria.
Falana’s call comes after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced the timetable for the 2027 general elections, fixing January 16, 2027, for presidential and National Assembly polls, and February 6, 2027, for governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections.
Despite the elections being about 10 months away, Falana expressed concern that political actors have already shifted focus to campaigns at the expense of governance and service delivery.
“It is common knowledge that some political parties have commenced political campaigns even though elections will not hold until 10 months’ time,” Falana said.
“The governance of the country has since been abandoned for the celebration of defections by elected governors and legislators, as well as other forms of political campaigns.”
The senior lawyer linked this growing political distraction to worsening insecurity nationwide, pointing to increased incidents of kidnapping and killings in several regions.
Nigeria continues to battle multiple security threats, including banditry in the North-West, insurgency in the North-East, and rising urban crime, all of which have weakened public confidence in government institutions.
Falana also criticised what he described as misplaced priorities among political leaders, accusing them of diverting public funds into what he termed “illegal campaigns” instead of investing in critical sectors such as education.
“It is sad to note that while huge public funds are wasted on illegal political campaigns, authorities in the Federal Capital Territory and most states have refused to pay counterpart funds required to access the N98 billion matching grant of the Universal Basic Education Commission,” he stated.
The UBEC matching grant is aimed at strengthening basic education nationwide, but many states have struggled to access it due to their inability to provide counterpart funding, raising concerns about declining education standards.
Citing legal provisions, Falana reminded political parties of the restrictions outlined in the Electoral Act 2026.
“Section 98(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026, clearly provides that the period of campaigning shall commence 150 days before polling day and end 24 hours prior to that day,” he said.
He, therefore, urged enforcement agencies, including INEC, the Nigeria Police Force, and the State Security Service, to ensure strict compliance.
“We are compelled to call on the relevant authorities to halt further political campaigns in strict compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act,” Falana added.
Analysts note that early campaigning has become a recurring pattern in Nigeria’s political cycle, often blurring the line between governance and electioneering.
With the country facing mounting socio-economic challenges, prolonged political distractions could delay critical reforms ahead of the 2027 elections.