Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has called for the immediate suspension of ongoing political campaigns, warning that premature politicking is undermining governance and worsening insecurity across the country.
Falana made the call in a statement issued on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, following the announcement by the Independent National Electoral Commission, which fixed January 16, 2027, for presidential and National Assembly elections, and February 6, 2027, for governorship and state Houses of Assembly polls.
Despite the elections being about 10 months away, he lamented that political parties and elected officials have already intensified campaigns at the expense of governance and public 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 the trend to worsening insecurity, citing rising cases of kidnapping and killings across different parts of the country. Nigeria has continued to grapple with persistent security challenges, including banditry in the North-West, insurgency in the North-East, and increasing urban crime.
Falana also criticised what he described as misplaced priorities among political actors, accusing them of diverting public funds to “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 said.
He noted that the commission’s fund is meant to support basic education nationwide but remains underutilised due to the failure of some states to provide counterpart funding, raising concerns about declining education standards.
Citing legal provisions, Falana reminded political parties of the Electoral Act regulating campaign timelines.
“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 stated.
He urged the electoral body, the Nigeria Police Force, and the State Security Service to enforce compliance with the law.
“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.
Political analysts say early campaigning has become a recurring feature of Nigeria’s electoral cycle, often blurring the line between governance and electioneering. They warn that prolonged political distractions could delay key reforms in security, education, and economic management ahead of the 2027 general elections.
