The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cautioned political parties against early campaigns ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Commission stated that such actions were not only inappropriate but also a gross violation of the Electoral Act.
The warning is coming as major players, including Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, governors on the All Progressives Congress (APC) platforms as well as their backers and supporters strategise ahead of the 2027 poll.
And in all of this, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) leadership conundrum got further deepened as the state chairmen of the party called on the INEC to reject the David Mark-led interim administration which they described as illegal.
…INEC’s warning
Sounding a note of caution through the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, the electoral body said it had yet to release the timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 General Elections.
“To that extent, party primaries have not been held, and no political party has nominated candidates for the next general election,” he said.
Oyekanmi noted that “while Nigerians have the right and liberty to engage in political discussions and express their views on the next general election, any open campaign or canvassing votes for the 2027 general elections is not only inappropriate but also a violation of the Electoral Act.”
“Section 94(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 stipulates that the period of campaigning in public by political parties for an election shall commence 150 days before polling day and end 24 hours prior to that day.
“Section 95 (1) of the Act also states clearly that a candidate and his or her party shall campaign for an election in accordance with such rules and regulations as may be determined by INEC.
“The attention of all political parties in Nigeria was drawn to this situation at our last quarterly consultative meeting, and the Commission expects full compliance with the law,” he added.
…APC govs on data centre
Also in a strategic move ahead of the nationwide fresh electronic membership registration initiated by the APC, three members of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), led by Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo state, inspected the facilities Tuesday in Abuja.
The governors also reaffirmed the party’s unity, technological advancement, and growing popularity across Nigeria, brushing aside recent warnings from opposition parties ahead of the next general elections.
Speaking with newsmen after the inspection of the data centre at the party’s national secretariat, Chairman of the PGF, Senator Uzodimma, expressed satisfaction with the level of preparedness for the party’s digital membership drive.
Also on the working visit were governors of Kogi state, Usman Ododo and his Delta state counterpart, Sheriff Oborevwori.
Uzodimma said: “We came to monitor and evaluate the extent of the e-registration exercise. We have inspected and conducted a trip around the facilities, and we are highly impressed with what we saw.
“We are confident that any moment from now, our e-registration will start in full force.”
Commenting on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive to build a new national secretariat for the party, Uzodimma simply noted that “work is in progress.”
When asked about the appointment of Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda as the new APC National Chairman, Uzodimma beamed with optimism, saying: “Look at him here—handsome, tall, full of energy and intelligence. Our party is very excited and happy with the choice. We are confident that this is what we’ve been looking for. “
On criticisms from the ADC, which claimed it would be disastrous for the APC to remain in power after the next elections, Uzodimma dismissed the statement in its entirety.
“You called it a claim—it is their claim, not ours. I know there are only two parties in Nigeria: the All Progressives Congress and Others,” he remarked.
…Yilwatda
Also speaking, the party’s national chairman, Professor Yilwatda, said the APC had become a model of unity and internal democracy.
“Our relationship with the PGF is very cordial. We are exemplary in the way we conduct ourselves in NEC, in how governors relate with the party, and in how members at all levels engage,” Yilwatda stated.
He added: “We want to deepen our base in every state and use digital tools to know and support our members. This e-registration will help us with research and allow us to predict our support base accurately.”
..SWAGA 2.0
Similarly, the South West Agenda for Asiwaju (SWAGA) has said the president’s victory in 2027 general elections would be the greatest landslide in the history of the fourth republic.
National chairman of the body, Senator Dayo Adeyeye, said this Tuesday in Lagos during a news conference to unveil SWAGA 2.0, the group’s mobilisation strategy.
The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that SWAGA, in the build up to 2023 general elections, toured the length and breadth of South-West, selling Tinubu presidency to the people of the region.
Adeyeye, also the Chairman of the Board of Nigeria Port Authority and former Minister of State for Works, described it as a mere myth that the North would not support Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.
He said: “We are not afraid; it is going to be the greatest landslide victory in the history of the republic even in northern Nigeria.
“Nigerians should not allow those playing to the gallery to deceive them, they couldn’t do anything in their states when they were in government.
“We have not been disappointed, honestly. Tinubu has performed even beyond our expectations because we had thought he would succumb to political pressure and would not be able to carry out his campaign promises.
“He has confronted everything head-on and he is doing it. Tinubu is a courageous leader. He doesn’t think like a politician, but like a statesman who thinks about the next generation.”
Speaking on narrative that the North would not support Tinubu’s re-election, Adeyeye said that from the first republic till date, the North had never voted the same way for the same political party.
He added: “We must be wary of the myth that Northerners will not vote. The North has at least three geo-political zones. They don’t always go the same way all the time.
“The North has never voted as a monolith. North is not one political entity. Every part decides its own political fate.
“The interests are not the same. Different parts of the North belong to different political parties. I laugh when people say the North will not vote for Tinubu in 2027, there is a diversity of interests in the North.”
He said the coalition of opposition figures, under the ADC platform, won’t stop Tinubu in 2027.
“Right now, we even see greater consensus for Tinubu in the North. Who are the people saying they will not vote for Asiwaju in the North?
“It is always a myth. We saw it in 1993; MKO Abiola defeated Alhaji Bashir Tofa in his ward in Kano.
“Those saying Tinubu will not get votes in the North are people who do not have electoral value whatsoever. We don’t even know them. Eight years of Tinubu’s presidency is certain by the Grace of God.
“We see all governors of the north, particularly those in APC, supporting Tinubu. I even see governors of other parties in the North supporting Asiwaju as well.
“I have not seen anybody with electoral value in the north as opposed to Asiwaju going for a second term. All the governors are united.
“I can assure you Tinubu will win north with a landslide. The real northern leaders appreciate what Tinubu was doing,” he added.
On the inauguration of SWAGA 2, Adeyeye said the group was going to campaign vigorously at the right time for Tinubu’s re-election.
He said the many ongoing projects being executed by the present administration were a measure of the president’s performance.
Adeyeye listed the projects as 9th Mile-Otukpo-Makurdi Road, Sokoto-Badagry Highway and Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Dual Carriageway.
He listed others to include Abuja-Lokoja-Benin Road, Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, Benin – Asaba Super Highway, Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, Oyo-Ogbomoso Expressway, Bose Saadu–Kaima-Kosubosu Road, Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway, Bodo-Bonny Road among others.
Highlighting several other policies and initiatives of current administration, Adeyeye said if Tinubu had not taken some of the bold steps, especially removal of fuel subsidy and floating of exchange rate, the nation’s economy would have collapsed.
“We are of the firm conviction that given that the government has been able to achieve so much within just 2 years in office in terms of projects and policies, then Nigerians are in for a better and brighter future in four years.
“We know that ultimately more will be done and the country will experience exponential development and growth in eight years under the visionary and courageous leadership of Tinubu,” he added.
NAN reports that the event was attended by several leaders and members of the group from South West.
…Obi on tenure
Meanwhile, the LP presidential candidate in the last general elections, Mr Obi, has reiterated his commitment to serving only one term if elected president in 2027.
He said this Tuesday on his verified X handle , where he expressed concern over the reactions generated by his earlier pledge to govern for a single term.
Obi wrote: “I still find it baffling that my decision to do a term of four years, if given the mandate to rule this country, is generating so much agitation. By this feeling, we are doubting the fact that a sincere leader can achieve much in 48 months.”
On the criticism trailing his one-term promise, the former governor said: “I have never been desperate in the pursuit of power, or anything else, for that matter. “There are some traits associated with desperation, which in no way are in any of my political behaviours in the past and now.”
Obi listed those traits as including “overly aggressive rhetoric,” “making unfulfillable promises,” and “frequently changing positions to suit immediate political needs.”
“What drives me is not personal ambition, but a deep commitment to see Nigeria work. And if the sacrifice required of me is four years of sincere, accountable leadership, so be it,” said the former Anambra state governor.