Falana calls for instant suspension of political activities to safeguard effective governance

Falana Femi Falana SAN, Chair of the Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond, is advocating for the immediate halt of political campaigns, emphasizing the need for elected officials to prioritize their governance responsibilities.

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The Independent National Electoral Commission has slated the presidential and national assembly elections for January 16, 2027, and the governorship and state assembly elections for February 6, 2027, according to Falana.

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Despite the elections being nearly ten months away, some political parties have already initiated campaigns, with a focus on celebrating defections by governors and legislators, while governance seems to be taking a backseat, Falana observed.

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Falana expressed concern that this premature shift in focus has led to widespread insecurity, including kidnapping and killings by terrorists and bandits, as well as weak accountability and deepening poverty.

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He also pointed out that substantial public funds are being diverted to finance these illegal campaigns, at a time when many state governments and the federal capital territory authorities have failed to provide the necessary counterpart funds to access a N98 billion matching grant from the Universal Basic Education Commission.

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Falana cited Section 98(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026, which states that public campaigning should only commence 150 days before polling day and conclude 24 hours prior to the election.

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He urged the relevant authorities, including the INEC, the Nigeria Police Force, and the State Security Service, to enforce the law and bring an end to all ongoing political campaigns.

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Falana emphasized that the governance of the country must take precedence over premature political celebrations, underscoring the need for elected officials to prioritize their responsibilities.