Nigeria has entered an unusual political season. Two years before the general elections of 2027, both the ruling party and the opposition have begun full campaign activities. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra Governor Peter Obi have announced an alliance under the African Democratic Congress, while the All Progressives Congress is mounting an aggressive response that includes renaming public infrastructure and placing the president’s image on campaign billboards. The spectacle has created the impression of a nation already consumed by electioneering at the expense of governance.
The thesis is clear: early politicking risks overshadowing governance amid worsening economic woes. Inflation rose 21.9 percent in July 2025, down slightly from 22.2 percent in June, but still well above tolerable levels for millions of Nigerians. The naira remains weak, trading in the parallel market at roughly ₦1,483 to the dollar, far below the official rate while average petrol prices hover around ₦820 to ₦1025 per litre.
At a time of food insecurity and rising household hardship, political actors seem more focused on electoral advantage than alleviating suffering. Campaign posters, slogans and premature endorsements may energize party loyalists but do not ease hunger or stabilise the economy.
Section 94(1) of the Electoral Act stipulates that campaigning should begin no earlier than 150 days before the polls and end 24 hours prior to that day. This stipulation means campaigns should not begin earlier than September 2026. While enforcement has always been weak, the spirit of that law is to prevent distractions from governance. The present scenario shows just how hollow that safeguard has become. Rather than focusing on stabilizing the economy and improving security, leaders are investing time and resources in posters, slogans, and premature endorsements. Such actions reveal misplaced priorities and a troubling disregard for the hardship ordinary Nigerians endure.
The opposition alliance is not without significance. A united front between two figures who once split the opposition vote could shape the landscape of 2027. Yet the timing of this alliance risks being seen as opportunistic rather than visionary. Nigerians need proof that politicians can cooperate to solve today’s pressing crises, not just to secure tomorrow’s ballot advantage. Until then, their pact remains more symbolic than substantive.
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The ruling party has taken a different route, using state resources and visibility to project permanence in power. The renaming of public spaces after the sitting president sends a signal of political dominance but raises ethical questions. The line between party and state is once again being blurred, undermining the neutrality expected of public institutions. If citizens begin to see governance as little more than a campaign platform, trust in democratic institutions will erode further.
What Nigeria requires now is sober leadership. Public confidence in the political class is already low, and the early descent into campaign fever only widens the gap between leaders and the governed. The country is not short of challenges: tackling inflation, improving security, reviving industries, and strengthening the education and health systems. Every day spent on premature politicking is a day lost in addressing these urgent priorities.
The Independent National Electoral Commission should assert its authority by reminding political parties of the legal framework and the dangers of prolonged campaign distraction. Civil society must also hold leaders accountable, insisting that governance must not be suspended for politics. Nigeria cannot afford a repeat of cycles where economic hardship worsens while political elites indulge in endless campaign activities.
The road to 2027 is inevitable, but it should not begin with the abandonment of 2025. Leaders owe citizens focus, responsibility, and delivery on promises already made. Early campaigns may excite party faithful, but what the nation desperately needs is governance that works.
