2027: Stop unauthorised re-election campaigns, Tinubu tells supporters

Amid rising political undercurrents barely two years into his first term, President Bola Tinubu has issued a stern cease-and-desist order to supporters and groups promoting a premature campaign for his re-election in 2027.

The Presidency on Sunday, through a statement signed by Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, expressed deep concern over a growing number of billboards and other campaign materials surfacing in key cities, including Abuja and Kano, projecting Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima for the next presidential race.

The directive comes as the political climate across the country begins to simmer, despite the 2027 general elections being over two years away and no official timetable yet released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

In recent weeks, public spaces in some urban centres have been flooded with posters featuring the President and his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, in what appears to be an orchestrated campaign push.

The Presidency, however, insists it has not authorised any such move and views the unsolicited campaign efforts as a breach of Nigeria’s Electoral Act, which prohibits political campaigns outside INEC’s prescribed schedule.

“President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima deeply appreciate the continued support and goodwill from Nigerians,” the statement reads. “However, they do not endorse any activity that violates the laws of the land or the sanctity of the electoral process.”

According to Onanuga, the President has not given approval – formally or informally – for any individual or group to launch a campaign ahead of the 2027 polls.

The premature rollout of billboards and promotional content, he noted, undermines the electoral process, creates unfair political advantages, and distracts from the urgent work of governance.

Apart from campaign posters popping up in major cities, the

The presidency’s warning comes in the wake of statements by Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, who openly declared that his administration has already begun campaigning for Tinubu’s re-election. Speaking during a defection ceremony in Benin City, where a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmaker crossed over to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Okpebholo declared: “The next election, especially the 2027 presidential election, we are ready in Edo State. We have kick-started our own campaigns for the President in 2027. We have to mobilise the youths in our state.”

Governor Okpebholo’s remarks appear to run counter to the President’s message and have sparked a conversation about whether local party actors are acting independently – or in defiance – of the electoral law.

Observers suggest that early political posturing by state-level APC leaders may be attempts to consolidate influence or curry favour with the presidency ahead of internal party realignments.

Under the Electoral Act 2022, early political campaigns – before INEC’s official declaration of the electoral season – are considered illegal.

INEC has consistently warned that it will sanction political parties or individuals who violate these provisions.

The President’s move to publicly distance himself from such efforts reinforces his administration’s desire to uphold the integrity of the democratic process.

This cease-and-desist directive is important for setting the tone,” said a political analyst.

It sends a message to political actors that the administration is serious about governance and not premature politicking.”

Since taking office in May 2023, Tinubu has embarked on an ambitious and often controversial reform agenda, including the removal of the fuel subsidy, currency unification, and efforts to attract foreign investment.

These policies have met mixed reactions, with some hailing them as long-overdue steps toward fiscal responsibility, and others criticising the immediate economic hardship they have triggered for millions of Nigerians.

According to the Presidency, the administration’s focus remains firmly on delivering on its national development agenda.

“President Tinubu and his deputy are fully committed to the task of nation-building they have set for themselves,” Onanuga said, listing economic revitalisation, infrastructure renewal, social investment, human capital development, and national security as top priorities.

While speculation about Tinubu’s 2027 ambitions has been rife, the President has remained tight-lipped about whether he will seek a second term.

The Presidency has now made it clear that any such declarations will only come at the appropriate time – after INEC releases the official timetable.

Until then, Nigerians are advised to focus on governance and not allow political distractions to derail ongoing efforts aimed at stabilising the economy and strengthening democratic institutions.

“Let there be no ambiguity,” the Presidency warned.

“No individual or group has the President’s blessing to campaign on his behalf for 2027. Any such efforts should stop immediately.”

With the warning issued and the electoral commission yet to activate the 2027 calendar, political actors across the country may now have to rein in their enthusiasm and await the green light – lest they fall foul of the law.