By Our Correspondent
National News – Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has warned political parties and public officials to immediately halt early political campaigns ahead of the 2027 elections, saying premature politicking is distracting leaders from governance and worsening insecurity in Nigeria.
Falana issued the warning on Wednesday following the election timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which fixed January 16, 2027, for presidential and National Assembly elections and February 6, 2027, for governorship and state Houses of Assembly polls.
According to Falana, who raised the concern as a prominent legal advocate, political parties and some elected officials have already intensified campaigns what he described as “illegal and premature” when the elections are still about 10 months away where across Nigeria’s political landscape.
He warned that the growing focus on campaigns rather than governance why could deepen security challenges and stall development in key sectors such as education and public services.
In a statement released to the media, Falana said governance appears to have taken a back seat as politicians celebrate defections and mobilise support for future elections.
He noted that this trend undermines leadership responsibilities and diverts attention from urgent national problems, including rising kidnappings and killings in several parts of the country.
Nigeria has faced persistent security challenges in recent years, ranging from banditry in the North-West and insurgency in the North-East to increasing urban crime.
Falana argued that government officials should concentrate on addressing these issues rather than engaging in early electioneering.
The senior advocate also criticised the alleged misuse of public funds for political activities while critical development programmes remain underfunded.
He pointed out that several states have yet to provide counterpart funding required to access the N98 billion matching grant offered by the Universal Basic Education Commission to improve basic education nationwide.
Falana further cited Section 98(1) of the Electoral Act 2026, which stipulates that election campaigns should only begin 150 days before polling day and end 24 hours before voting.
He called on INEC, the Nigeria Police Force, and the State Security Service to enforce compliance with the law.
Analysts say enforcing the electoral timeline could help reduce political distractions and ensure leaders focus on governance before the 2027 polls.
