Premature campaigns, failing governance: The misplaced priorities of Nigerian politicians

By Eja Manifest Eji

In a country where millions are unsure of their next meal, where children learn under trees or not at all, and where citizens live in fear of kidnapping or bandit attacks, one would expect that leaders would be wholly consumed with the business of governance. Instead, Nigeria’s political space is once again echoing with the distant drums of election campaigns—two years before the polls.

Since early 2025, the political air has grown thick with talk of re-election. Billboards endorsing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term have begun to spring up across states. Politicians and powerbrokers are already donning campaign-branded apparel, making public declarations, and quietly laying the groundwork for what is still a far-off electoral contest. All this is happening in violation of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) guidelines, which clearly state that campaigns should begin no earlier than 150 days before the general elections.

What we are witnessing is not only a disregard for electoral laws but a dangerous normalization of premature politicking that undermines the democratic process and erodes the principles of public service.

Leadership on Pause

The implication of this trend is profound. It effectively puts governance on hold. Elected leaders, instead of focusing on implementing policies, begin to view every decision through the lens of political survival. Ministries and agencies become tools of propaganda, public funds get diverted into unofficial campaign activities, and citizens are left with little more than recycled promises and photo ops.

This is not conjecture. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), as of late 2024, over 133 million Nigerians were classified as multidimensionally poor. Food prices have skyrocketed, with inflation peaking at 33.2% in early 2025, driven largely by the cost of essentials such as rice, bread, and cooking oil. The education sector is no better. UNESCO reports that Nigeria still accounts for over 10.5 million out-of-school children, the highest in the world.

How can a nation in this condition afford to start politicking years in advance?

INEC Must Act

INEC, as the regulatory body, must rise to the occasion. It is not enough to issue periodic press statements reminding political actors of the rules. The Commission must begin to enforce its own guidelines with tangible consequences. If public officials, political appointees, or elected leaders begin campaigns outside the approved window, they must be sanctioned. Otherwise, we risk rendering the electoral framework ineffective.

There is also a need for broader civic and political reorientation. Many politicians treat campaign timelines as optional suggestions, not binding directives. This is a by-product of our weak enforcement culture and the over-politicization of state structures. INEC, civil society organizations, and the media must work collaboratively to remind the political class that governance is not a rehearsal for re-election—it is the main event.

The People Are Watching

Perhaps the most tragic irony in this saga is how out-of-touch many politicians are with the people they claim to serve. There is a growing awareness among Nigerians—especially the youth—that the country’s leadership is largely reactive, not responsive. Social media, grassroots movements, and community radio are increasingly amplifying the voice of the masses, and the message is clear: “We are not asleep.”

The End SARS protests of 2020, the 2023 “Not Too Young to Run” momentum, and recent voter registration surges are all signals of a politically conscious population that will not remain silent forever. Politicians who ignore this awakening do so at their own peril.

Beyond 2027: A Call for Responsible Leadership

Elections are essential to democracy, but when campaigns begin to overshadow the very essence of governance, the people suffer. The obsession with power retention must give way to a new culture of service-driven leadership. If President Tinubu and his allies believe in a second-term bid, the most effective campaign would be the delivery of results. Not posters. Not billboards. Not branded caps or t-shirts. But policies that create jobs, end insecurity, lower inflation, and send children back to school.

The true endorsement lies in good governance. Nigerians do not owe any politician an automatic second term. It must be earned—not demanded.

As 2027 draws closer, let us not spend the next two years talking politics while the nation continues to bleed. Let us demand more. Let us remind those in power that the mandate of leadership is not for political theatrics, but for transformational governance.

Let them govern. The campaigns can wait.