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’s position follows the announcement by the Independent National Electoral Commission, which fixed January 16, 2027, for the presidential and National Assembly elections, and February 6, 2027, for governorship and state Houses of Assembly polls, according to a statement he released on Wednesday morning.

Despite the timeline placing elections about 10 months away, Falana lamented that political parties and elected officials have already intensified campaigns, sidelining 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 alleged neglect of governance to worsening insecurity, citing rising cases of kidnapping and killings across various parts of the country.

Nigeria has, in recent years, grappled with persistent security challenges, including banditry in the North-West, insurgency in the North-East, and rising urban crime, all of which have strained public confidence in government institutions.

Falana further criticised what he described as the misplacement of priorities by political actors, noting that public funds were being spent on what he termed “illegal campaigns” instead of critical sectors like 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 Universal Basic Education Commission fund is designed to support basic education across Nigeria, but several states have historically failed to access the funds due to their inability to provide counterpart financing, raising concerns about declining education standards in Africa’s most populous nation.

Citing legal provisions, Falana reminded political parties of the Electoral Act, which regulates 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 said.

He, therefore, called on INEC, 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 note that early campaigning has become a recurring feature in Nigeria’s electoral cycle, often blurring the line between governance and electioneering. With over 200 million citizens and growing socio-economic challenges, experts warn that prolonged political distractions could further delay critical reforms in security, education, and economic management ahead of the 2027 polls. (PUNCH)