By Momodu Favour

Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has called for an immediate halt to premature political campaigns across the country, warning that the trend is undermining governance and exacerbating insecurity.

Falana raised the concern amid increasing political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections, noting that many politicians have shifted focus from governance to campaign strategies, endorsements, and alliance-building—well before the official timetable set by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

According to him, the early commencement of campaigns violates electoral regulations and diverts attention from pressing national issues, including economic hardship and worsening security challenges.

“The country cannot afford to be in a perpetual campaign mode,” Falana said, stressing that governance must take priority over political ambition, especially at a time when citizens are grappling with rising living costs and widespread insecurity.

He warned that the growing obsession with politics risks creating a governance vacuum, where leaders neglect their responsibilities in favour of electoral calculations. Falana pointed out that critical sectors such as security, healthcare, and infrastructure require urgent and sustained attention.

The senior advocate also expressed concern over the impact of premature politicking on national security, noting that persistent threats such as banditry, kidnapping, and communal violence demand coordinated responses from government at all levels.

He urged INEC to strictly enforce the provisions of the Electoral Act regulating campaign timelines, adding that failure to do so could erode public confidence in the democratic process.

Falana further called on civil society organisations, the media, and Nigerians at large to demand accountability from political leaders, insisting that democracy must extend beyond elections to include effective governance and respect for the rule of law.

As political permutations continue to intensify across the country, Falana maintained that restoring discipline in the political space is essential to ensuring that public office holders prioritise national interest over personal ambition.

He warned that unless urgent steps are taken to refocus attention on governance, Nigeria risks deepening its current socio-economic and security challenges.