Femi Falana Slams Early 2027 Campaigns as Illegal and Distracting

As Nigeria looks ahead to the 2027 general elections, human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has raised a firm objection to the wave of early political campaigning already taking shape.

Appearing on Politics Today on Channels TV, Falana described the premature electioneering as both unlawful and a serious distraction from the business of governance.

“As far as the 2027 elections are concerned, the ongoing political campaigns are totally illegal. They are also diversionary because what Nigerians expect now, and what the law provides for, is governance, not distraction,” he stated.

Falana explained that under Nigeria’s current legal framework, there is no provision that allows for campaigns to begin this early, nearly two years before the scheduled election.

“There’s no provision yet in the law for campaigns two years before an election. It’s not part of our legal framework,” he said.

The legal luminary called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to warn state governors and other political figures already engaging in early campaign activities.

He emphasized the need for INEC to enforce the guidelines of the Electoral Act and hold political players accountable to the law.

Falana also challenged the media to play its part in protecting democratic norms by shining a light on legal violations and demanding accountability from those in office.

“If those in power want to amend the law to allow early campaigns, that process should be followed. But until then, everyone must respect the law,” he added.