Charles Udeogaranya, a former All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential aspirant, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to prioritize governance over his 2027 re-election campaign, warning that early politicking risks violating the Electoral Act and undermining his mandate.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday, Udeogaranya urged the President to “go low” on his 2027 ambitions, arguing that focusing on re-election now is ill-timed and distracts from delivering promised governance.
“There is time for everything, and now is the time for governance till June 2026 at least,” Udeogaranya said, emphasizing that premature campaign activities, including efforts by Tinubu’s surrogates to secure endorsements, could overheat the polity and neglect pressing issues.
He noted that political hibernation is essential to allow governance to take precedence, particularly in states like Anambra, where he claims the obsession with 2027 is already overshadowing critical governance challenges.
The admonition comes days after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) warned political parties and candidates against engaging in premature electioneering ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Udeogaranya, a self-described follower of Zikist ideology, criticized politicians for prioritizing mobilization and meetings over public welfare, stating, “No amount of time is enough for politicians to conduct their trade through more meetings, mobilizations, and refreshments on the same dried purse meant for people’s welfare.”
Meanwhile, the APC remains steadfast in its support for Tinubu’s re-election.
At the APC National Policy and Development Summit in Abuja, party chairman Abdullahi Ganduje declared Tinubu the sole candidate for 2027, backed by the National Working Committee, 22 APC governors, and National Assembly leadership.
Tinubu himself dismissed accusations of engineering a one-party state, asserting that Nigeria’s constitutional democracy guarantees freedom of association and predicting more defections to the APC.
