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President Bola Tinubu has urged his numerous supporters to pause their 2027 campaigns until the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officially makes an announcement.
This request follows the widespread appearance of campaign posters and billboards for Tinubu, as well as his vice president, Kashim Shettima, across Airport Road in Abuja and in various areas of Kano State.
Political analysts have expressed concern regarding the multitude of campaign materials cluttering and disfiguring major cities in the country.
Many of these billboards are said to have been financed by political groups, associations, and politicians seeking to curry favor with the presidency.
In a statement released on Sunday by his special adviser on information and strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu conveyed his disapproval of the growing number of billboards endorsing the 2027 campaign for both him and Shettima.
He showed particular discontent that certain billboards featuring images of him and his wife, Oluremi Tinubu, are proliferating especially in Abuja and Kano.
“While President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima sincerely appreciate their enthusiastic and loyal supporters throughout the nation for their ongoing support, they do not endorse any campaign that violates the laws of the land,” Tinubu stated.
He pointed out that election and political campaign laws prohibit any campaigning for the 2027 general elections.
He warned that early campaigning could jeopardize the integrity of the electoral process and create unfair advantages, emphasizing that, as law-abiding leaders, he and Shettima do not endorse any actions that undermine national institutions and the electoral process.
“Until the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) establishes the timetable for the 2027 elections, the President has not consented to or authorized any individual or group to initiate a 2027 campaign for him through any media platform whether Out-of-Home, print, digital, radio, or television. Therefore, we urgently call upon individuals and groups that are financing this 2027 political campaign by deploying materials on billboards nationwide to halt immediately,” the President asserted.
While underlining his and his Vice’s commitment to fulfilling the ongoing tasks related to nation-building, Tinubu further stated that this commitment is evident in their focus on economic revitalization, human capital development, infrastructure renewal, social investment, and national security.
He added that once the electoral body indicates that the processes for the 2027 elections can commence, he will promptly inform Nigerians of his plans.
Tinubu, who has recently completed two years of his first term, is anticipated to seek a second term. Although he has not publicly declared his intentions, political observers believe that the incumbent will run for re-election.
