Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has called for an immediate stop to political campaigns across Nigeria, stressing the need for elected officials to prioritize governance over premature electioneering.
Falana’s statement comes as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has scheduled the presidential and national assembly elections for January 16, 2027, while governorship and state assembly polls are slated for February 6, 2027.
Despite the elections being almost ten months away, Falana expressed concern that political parties have already begun campaigning, celebrating defections by governors and legislators, while governance appears neglected.
“This premature abandonment of governance has directly contributed to widespread insecurity, including kidnapping, killings by terrorists and bandits, weak accountability, and deepening poverty,” Falana said.
He also highlighted that substantial public funds are being diverted to illegal campaigns, noting that many state governments—including authorities of the federal capital territory—have failed to pay their counterpart funds needed to access a ₦98 billion matching grant from the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).
Falana reminded political actors of Section 98(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026, which mandates that public campaigning should only begin 150 days before polling day and end 24 hours prior to the election.
The call from Falana serves as a stern warning to politicians to put governance and accountability first, especially as Nigeria continues to grapple with insecurity, poverty, and other socio-economic challenges.
