Campaigns Begin, Parties Test Their Readiness for 2027 Polls

Editorial

The commencement of campaigns for the 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections marks another critical stage in Nigeria’s democratic journey. With the campaign window now officially open, political parties have a responsibility to move beyond internal calculations and begin presenting Nigerians with credible ideas, realistic programmes and candidates capable of providing responsible leadership.

The apparent reluctance of some major political parties to immediately hit the campaign trail should not, in itself, be interpreted as a lack of preparedness. The law provides a broad window for campaigns and does not compel parties to organise rallies on the opening day. Indeed, adequate planning may be preferable to a hurried commencement of activities without a clear message or strategy.

What matters, ultimately, is the quality of the campaign that follows.

The five-month campaign period should not become an extended season of political rhetoric, personal attacks and empty promises. It should give the parties enough time to engage the electorate meaningfully, explain their programmes and subject their candidates to public scrutiny.

Nigerians have serious concerns that demand serious answers. The economy, cost of living, insecurity, unemployment, electricity supply, education, healthcare, infrastructure and agricultural productivity remain major issues. These should form the substance of the political debate rather than the usual politics of personalities, ethnicity, religion and accusations.

For the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the campaign provides an opportunity to explain and defend the policies and record of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration. The party should be prepared to tell Nigerians not only what it believes it has achieved, but also how it intends to address areas where the impact of its policies remains a source of concern to citizens.

For the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, as well as the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and its candidate, Atiku Abubakar, the challenge is to convince Nigerians that their alternatives are more than opposition to the incumbent. Both parties must present clear, practical and financially credible programmes capable of addressing the country’s problems. Their campaigns should therefore be judged by the substance of their proposals and their ability to persuade voters that they can provide better leadership.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), with Sandy Onor as its presidential candidate, also faces the task of convincing Nigerians that its long-standing nationwide structure can be matched by a compelling programme for the future. Its declaration of readiness for the election is significant, but political structures alone cannot guarantee electoral success. The party must demonstrate that it has learnt from its past and can offer responsible, accountable leadership.

The Labour Party (LP), meanwhile, has indicated its intention to leverage its relationship with organised labour and its grassroots network. While such a structure could provide considerable mobilisation strength, the party must demonstrate that organisational reach can be translated into a coherent national programme and effective governance.

Indeed, none of the parties should assume that political pedigree, organisational structure or crowd-pulling capacity alone will guarantee victory. The electorate is entitled to demand evidence of competence, integrity, clear policy direction and the capacity to deliver on promises.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), meanwhile, must ensure that the campaign period remains within the bounds of the law. The Commission must provide a level playing field for all contestants and deal firmly with violations, including hate speech, intimidation, vote buying, misinformation and other practices capable of undermining the credibility of the election.

Political parties and their supporters must equally recognise that democracy is not warfare. Elections are contests for the mandate to govern, not battles in which the destruction of opponents is the ultimate objective. Political differences should therefore be expressed within the bounds of civility, while candidates must resist the temptation to exploit ethnic, religious and other social divisions for electoral advantage.

Above all, the electorate must remain at the centre of the campaign.

Nigerians should demand more from the candidates than rallies, slogans and promises. They should scrutinise manifestos, question policy proposals and demand clear explanations of how promised reforms will be implemented. Candidates must be judged not merely by their popularity or political machinery but by their competence, character, experience and capacity to deliver.

The parties have a sufficiently long campaign period to make their cases to the Nigerian people. They should use it wisely.

Nigeria does not need five months of political noise. It needs five months of serious national conversation.

As the campaign season begins, political parties must rise to the occasion by making the 2027 election a contest of ideas, policies and leadership capacity. Nigerians deserve the opportunity to choose on the basis of facts and competing visions for the country’s future, rather than propaganda, inducement or division.

The campaign has begun. The electorate is watching. The parties must now give Nigerians something worthy of their votes.