Don’t boycott 2027 elections, NRM aspirant urges opposition parties

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A presidential aspirant on the platform of the National Rescue Movement, Francis Onyema, on Wednesday urged opposition parties to shelve any plan to boycott the 2027 general elections, warning that such a move could undermine democratic participation.

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The NRM chieftain made the appeal in Abuja during his official declaration to run for the office of President, where he stressed the need for political actors to engage Nigerians through campaigns rather than withdraw from the electoral process.

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He said, “The Electoral Act 2026 has already been signed by the President, except, of course, they go through the mechanism of lawmaking again to address whatever agitations they have.

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“Personally, I don’t think it is right for IPAC and political parties to boycott the 2027 elections. Let them run their campaign and enlighten Nigerians. Let us go after those who have plans to snatch ballot boxes and let them know that there are consequences for their action.

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“Election must be a contest of ideas that requires sacrifice to build a nation. The NRM is a party that is very competitive. I am willing to conform to the standard set by the party.”

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Onyema, who decried Nigeria’s lingering governance challenges, attributed many of the country’s problems to poor leadership, insisting that a new direction was urgently needed.

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“For many years, Nigeria has struggled with insecurity, unemployment, and failing educational and healthcare systems. It is this failure of leadership that has fueled the socioeconomic decay confronting our nation today.

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“As an ordinary Nigerian, I understand the challenges we face as a people. Worst of all, millions now live in the grip of fear under the administration of Bola Tinubu due to widespread insecurity.

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“It is precisely because of these realities that I stand before you today, not just to speak about Nigeria’s problems, but to commit myself to leading the effort to solve them. I am running because I believe that leadership in a democracy should not be the exclusive preserve of the rich and the powerful,” he stated.

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The aspirant also disclosed that he had commenced high-level consultations ahead of his campaign, including notifying former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan of his intention to contest.

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He added that he had reached out to other prominent figures, including the Oba of Benin, the Emir of Kano, and human rights lawyer Femi Falana, as part of efforts to build broad-based support.

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The call comes amid growing tension within the opposition over the amended Electoral Act and its implications for the 2027 polls.

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The debate intensified weeks ago when the Inter-Party Advisory Council warned that political parties could boycott the elections if contentious provisions in the law are not reviewed by the National Assembly.

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Addressing journalists after an emergency meeting of party leaders in Abuja, IPAC National Chairman, Yusuf Dantalle, said the council had resolved to mobilise parties nationwide to resist aspects of the law it considers detrimental to Nigeria’s multiparty democracy.

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Among other concerns, the council criticised the removal of mandatory electronic transmission of results and provisions it said could weaken internal party democracy, warning that failure to address the issues could trigger a nationwide boycott.

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The controversy followed the signing of the Electoral Act 2026 amendment into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on February 18, shortly after the Independent National Electoral Commission released the timetable for the 2027 general elections.

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