- Falana warned that this trend is taking a toll on the country, linking the neglect of governance to rising insecurity
- He also criticised what he described as wasteful spending on premature campaigns
- campaigns are legally permitted to begin 150 days before election day and must end 24 hours prior to voting
The Chairman of the Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond (ASCAB), Femi Falana, has urged a halt to political campaigns across Nigeria, calling on leaders to prioritise governance over early election activities.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Eko Hot Blog gathered that the Senior Advocate of Nigeria expressed concern that political actors have shifted focus from governing to campaigning, even though the next general elections are still months away.
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He pointed out that parties have already begun mobilising, with increasing defections among politicians being openly celebrated.
Falana warned that this trend is taking a toll on the country, linking the neglect of governance to rising insecurity, including kidnappings and killings by armed groups.
He also criticised what he described as wasteful spending on premature campaigns, while essential public services remain underfunded.
He cited the failure of many state governments and the Federal Capital Territory to access a N98 billion matching grant from the Universal Basic Education Commission, noting that counterpart funding has not been provided.
The rights lawyer further reminded political parties of the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026, which clearly defines the official campaign period.
According to him, campaigns are legally permitted to begin 150 days before election day and must end 24 hours prior to voting.
He called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, the Nigeria Police Force, and the State Security Service to enforce compliance with the law by stopping all early campaign activities.
Meanwhile, INEC has adjusted the timetable for the 2027 general elections after concerns that the earlier dates would clash with the Ramadan period.
Under the revised schedule, presidential and National Assembly elections will now take place on January 16, 2027, while governorship and state assembly elections are set for February 6, 2027.
The commission explained that the changes followed the introduction of a new legal framework after the repeal of the previous electoral law.
It also outlined key pre-election activities, including party primaries scheduled between April 23 and May 30, 2026.
Campaigns for presidential and National Assembly elections are expected to begin on August 19, 2026, while those for governorship and state assemblies will start on September 9, 2026.
INEC emphasised that all political parties must strictly adhere to the approved timeline, warning that it would enforce compliance in line with the law.
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