One month after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) lifted the ban on presidential campaigns on August 19, 2026, the 2027 election race has yet to pick up full momentum. According to INEC’s timetable, the presidential and national assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, while governorship and state assembly polls will hold on February 6.
Internal party disputes over candidate substitution, shifting alliances and funding constraints are hindering major parties—especially the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC)—from finalising campaign structures and reconciling stakeholders across the country.
Even the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which announced a presidential campaign council, has been running subtle pre-election mobilisations through groups such as City Boy Movements, Renewed Hope Project 2027, the rebranded Southwest Agenda for Asiwaju (SWAGA 2.0), and interventions by First Lady Oluremi Tinubu across the six geopolitical zones. President Bola Tinubu’s three-week annual leave in Europe has, however, dampened the council’s momentum and exposed competing interests within the party. Observers point to the recent public rift between some APC governors and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike over campaign structure for Tinubu’s re-election as evidence of the importance of the President’s presence during electioneering.
With the polls set for mid-January, October and November are the critical months for effective campaigning; December’s festivities traditionally reduce the pace of political activity.
The challenge of funding and internal crises
The Electoral Act 2026 imposes spending limits on campaigns, but raising required funds remains difficult for parties without elected officials in key positions—governors, lawmakers—or backing from big business. Campaigning in Nigeria is capital-intensive, covering advertising, venue hire, logistics, payment for party agents and grassroots mobilisation.
The APC, which controls the presidency and 31 state governments, has ready sources of funding. Smaller parties such as the Allied People’s Movement and Accord Party, which control two and one states respectively, lack comparable resources. Main challengers like the ADC and NDC, with few lawmakers, may have to rely on pooled funds.
The NDC’s recent legal battle illustrates how disputes can stall a party. Until September 18, 2026, the party’s registration was in doubt after a Federal High Court decision in June appeared to reverse an earlier order directing INEC to register the NDC. On September 18 the Court of Appeal set aside the June ruling, restoring the December 10, 2025 order that recognised the party and dismissing claims by the Peace Movement Party (PMP) over a disputed logo. The appellate court found that the lower court had erred in revisiting its earlier final judgment.
The ruling removed an immediate legal cloud and allowed the NDC to refocus on internal issues, notably the substitution of candidates. On August 31, 2026, NDC National Chairman Senator Cleopas Zuwoghe accused INEC of publishing unauthorised names in several constituencies. INEC said it lacked the power to substitute candidates and that the matter remained the party’s responsibility. Party sources say national leaders are working to resolve substitution disputes before the withdrawal and replacement deadline of September 19, 2026, and ahead of INEC’s publication of final lists for governorship and state assembly candidates on November 14, 2026.
Reactions from parties
ADC National Publicity Secretary Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi said the party was proceeding deliberately and strategically. “We cannot start running now and burn out. We need the right structure,” he told reporters, adding that the ADC has no funding problems and will announce its campaign committee soon. He noted recent setbacks by other parties—referring to an APC campaign council that was withdrawn hours after announcement—as a cautionary example.
NDC National Publicity Secretary Osa Director said the party had been distracted by legal disputes but was now composing its campaign council. “It is not how far, but how well. The court judgment removed a major distraction. Between the end of September and the first week in October, we will announce our campaign committee. We have asked our state candidates to commence campaigning,” he said, citing recent town halls organised by NDC candidates in Rivers and upcoming events in Kaduna.
As parties finalise structures and shore up resources, the race for 2027 is likely to intensify in the weeks ahead—provided internal disputes are resolved and candidates can mount coordinated nationwide campaigns.
