By Opeyemi Adelakun
Governorship candidates and political parties across Nigeria have formally stepped up campaigns for the 2027 elections, unveiling policy proposals focused on security, agriculture, healthcare, education, employment and economic development.
The governorship and State House of Assembly campaign period formally commenced on Wednesday, September 9, with candidates in different states presenting their programmes while political actors and security authorities urged parties to keep the contests peaceful and issue-based.
In the North-West, seven governorship candidates of the African Democratic Congress signed a regional compact promising a N110,000 minimum wage, 21 specialist hospitals and coordinated action on insecurity, education, agriculture and economic development.
The Northwest ADC Governorship Candidates’ Compact 2027–2031 was signed at the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja.
Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice and Kebbi ADC governorship candidate, Abubakar Malami, SAN, who read the communiqué, said the candidates would retain responsibility for their respective states while working together on challenges that cut across state boundaries.
“Where our people’s problems cross our borders, we commit to govern together to resolve them,” the communiqué stated.
The compact provides for coordinated security operations, intelligence sharing, cross-border trade and joint infrastructure projects.
The candidates also proposed technology-driven surveillance and rapid-response systems across the region’s 21 senatorial districts, including drone deployment and a Northwest Regional Security Coordination Centre.
Their agricultural agenda includes protected farming corridors, formalised livestock production, agro-processing, a regional grain reserve and rehabilitation of irrigation infrastructure.
They further pledged to declare an emergency on education, expand access to Universal Basic Education Commission funding, integrate Almajiri and Tsangaya children into formal education, improve girls’ school attendance and strengthen teacher recruitment and training.
In healthcare, the candidates promised to revitalise primary healthcare centres, expand midwifery, telemedicine and community health insurance, while establishing one specialist hospital in each of the region’s 21 senatorial districts.
Roads, rail, electricity, water, digital connectivity, border infrastructure and logistics facilities were also listed among the regional priorities.
Malami said the compact was designed to ensure that government resources translate into tangible improvements in citizens’ lives.
“We commit to reform with responsibility, relief with accountability, and growth our citizens can feel,” he said.
Among those who signed were Malami, Manir Mohammad Dan’iya of Sokoto, Sabo Mohammed Nakudu of Jigawa and Bilyaminu Yusuf Shinkafi of Zamfara. The candidates from Katsina, Kaduna and Kano were represented by their deputies.
In Adamawa, APC governorship candidate Tijani Galadima unveiled an agenda centred on agriculture and security, promising to establish processing factories that would enable farmers to earn more from their produce.
Galadima, who spoke at a press conference in Yola, said greater investment in agriculture would increase revenue, create jobs and drive industrial development.
“Our farmers are getting far less for what they are producing. It is those that are processing their farm products that are benefiting from our farmers’ sweat,” he said.
He identified insecurity as a major impediment to farming and promised measures that would allow farmers to safely return to their fields.
Galadima also said he would build on what he described as the foundation laid by Governor Ahmadu Fintiri and urged contestants to avoid personal attacks.
“We should focus on what we can do for the state, instead of name-calling of other contestants,” he said.
Kaduna APC Promises Issue-Based Campaign
In Kaduna, the APC commenced its governorship and State House of Assembly campaign, promising to focus on the record of Governor Uba Sani’s administration.
The party’s State Publicity Secretary, Mohamed Sani Haruna, said the campaign would cover the state’s 23 local government areas and would be conducted without insults or personal attacks.
“We intend to conduct our campaign without acrimony, without insult,” Haruna said.
He cited education, healthcare, sports and skills acquisition among areas where he said the Sani administration had recorded progress, including a reported reduction in tuition fees at state-owned tertiary institutions and the restoration of scholarship programmes.
Haruna also pointed to upgrades in general hospitals and investment in sports infrastructure.
On insecurity, however, he acknowledged that the problem had not been completely eliminated.
“We do not claim that the insecurity issue has been totally eradicated. But we have a government that is committed to eradicating it,” he said.
In Abia, PDP governorship candidate Kelechi Anosike launched a 10-point manifesto tagged “People First, Abia Always”, with a strong emphasis on welfare-oriented governance.
Anosike said his agenda covers agriculture, economic development, healthcare, education, workers’ welfare, rural development, youth and women empowerment, housing, justice, security and infrastructure.
Under his proposed “Operation Feed Abia”, he promised mechanised farming, stronger extension services and greater support for farmers, including the provision of tractors through local governments.
He also proposed a Traders Microfinance Bank in Aba to provide interest-free revolving loans ranging from N500,000 to N2m to traders and artisans operating through registered cooperatives.
Anosike promised to establish three industries annually and provide entrepreneurship grants.
In healthcare, he proposed a state health insurance scheme under which government would cover 60 per cent of medical costs, alongside upgraded primary healthcare centres, functional laboratories across the 17 local government areas and free maternal healthcare.
For education, he proposed the “No Abia Student Left Behind” programme, scholarships, entrepreneurship grants for graduates and improved teachers’ welfare.
“Never again will anyone graduate with only a degree. You come out with a degree and with a skill,” he said.
He also pledged a N90,000 minimum wage and promised to clear outstanding allowances, gratuities and pension arrears within 100 days of taking office.
Anosike further promised to recall 15,000 workers he said were prematurely sacked, while proposing rural development initiatives, a labour and global opportunities agency, new housing layouts, judicial autonomy and four major infrastructure projects in his first year.
“We will build roads, but we will build lives first,” he said.
In Ogun, PDP governorship candidate Oladipupo Adebutu launched his campaign on the ITURA DE agenda, which focuses on security, local government autonomy, workers’ welfare and economic reforms.
Adebutu unveiled the blueprint at the Ake Palace in Abeokuta, saying it was designed to address poverty, unemployment, insecurity and what he described as poor governance.
The agenda covers seven broad areas: security and law and order; local government financial autonomy and workers’ welfare; urban development and transportation; rural and border communities; agriculture and industrial development; women, youth and sports; and education, healthcare and social services.
Adebutu promised to secure farms, highways and communities and protect citizens’ freedom to participate in political activities without intimidation.
“We shall dismantle the architecture of fear, aggressively securing every farm, highway, and neighbourhood from lawlessness,” he said.
He also pledged to restore financial and administrative autonomy to local governments, pay outstanding pensions and gratuities, review the Contributory Pension Scheme and use public-private partnerships to finance major infrastructure.
On agriculture, he promised zero-interest loans and single-digit financing for farmers, while proposing vocational training for youths and a review of multiple taxation affecting traders and small businesses.
Meanwhile, the Enugu State Structures for Signage and Advertisement Agency reiterated its ban on the pasting and display of campaign posters, warning that violators could face fines of up to N50m.
The agency’s General Manager, Francis Aninwike, said the restriction covered posters bearing the names, photographs, logos, slogans and messages of political parties, candidates and aspirants.
According to the agency, the ban is backed by the Enugu State Structures for Signage and Advertisement Agency Law No. 12 of 2016 and applies to buildings, walls, fences, bridges, electricity poles, roads and public facilities.
The agency urged political parties and candidates to use broadcast, print and digital platforms, as well as approved billboards.
“The ban remains in force. All are hereby advised to comply accordingly,” it said.
In Kwara, the PDP and the state government traded accusations over the removal of campaign billboards belonging to PDP governorship candidate Suleiman Bolakale Kawu in Ilorin.
The latest dispute followed the removal of a billboard at Adabata Junction.
The Kwara State Signage and Advertisement Agency said the structure lacked regulatory approval and posed safety concerns, alleging that part of the public road had been excavated during its installation.
The agency also raised concerns about another billboard allegedly mounted on a government-owned water tank.
“Outdoor advertising regulation is not about political parties, candidates or personalities. The same standards apply to everyone,” KWASAA said.
The governor’s Senior Special Assistant on Communications, Ibraheem Abdullateef, said the Adabata billboard was removed following complaints from residents and because it allegedly obstructed motorists’ visibility.
Kawu accused the administration of suppressing opposition activities.
“If politically motivated, this is an abuse of administrative power and a disturbing display of intolerance towards legitimate political competition,” he said.
The Kwara PDP also alleged that another Kawu billboard was removed at Agaka in Ilorin but did not provide evidence that Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq personally ordered the action.
In Sokoto, the Commissioner of Police, Hayatu Shafa, warned political parties and supporters against violence, hate speech, fake news and other acts capable of undermining the 2027 elections.
At a meeting with political party leaders and representatives, Shafa urged politicians to make the election a contest of ideas and cooperate with security agencies.
“We must move from the politics of insult to politics of issues. There is no room for hate speech, fake news or character assassination,” he said.
He warned party leaders that they could be held responsible for the conduct of their supporters and cautioned against the destruction of campaign materials, display of weapons and use of private security outfits at rallies.
“The Nigerian Police Force will enforce the Electoral Act 2022 without fear or favour. If you break the law, you will face the consequences,” he said.
Shafa also urged politicians to avoid exposing voters to danger in banditry-affected areas.
“Protect the voters, do not endanger them,” he said.
The Kano State Government similarly urged candidates to pursue peaceful and issue-based campaigns.
The Director-General, Media and Publicity, Government House, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, said candidates should compete on policies, programmes and records.
“The people of Kano deserve a campaign where candidates explain what they intend to do differently and how they will improve the lives of citizens,” he said.
He also urged the media, bloggers and social media users to verify information and avoid spreading fake news and inflammatory content.
“Kano is bigger than any political party or individual. Political competition will come and go, but we will continue to live together as one people after the election,” he said.
Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Monday Ubani, also warned political actors against allowing the 2027 contest to degenerate into intimidation and violence.
In a statement titled “There Are Minimum Requirements: Nigeria Must Not Descend,” Ubani said the political temperature was rising and warned against normalising developments that could undermine democratic competition.
He recalled episodes of political violence in Nigeria’s history, including Operation Wetie during the First Republic and violence associated with the 2011, 2015, 2019 and 2023 elections.
Ubani said candidates should challenge one another based on their records and policies rather than intimidation.
“An election is not a war, and a political opponent is not an enemy of the State,” he said.
He urged political parties and candidates to make the 2027 campaigns about policies, programmes and performance.
“Your political mobilisation is to persuade, and not to terrorise,” he said.
Ubani called on INEC, security agencies, political parties, civil society groups, religious and traditional leaders and citizens to work towards peaceful and credible elections.
“Please let us not destroy the country in our desperate quest to govern it,” he said.
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