"2027 Elections: Where's the Governance? Nigerian Politicians Focus on Power Play"

 "2027 Elections: Where's the Governance? Nigerian Politicians Focus on Power Play"

By Sani Bello Hamza

As the 2027 general election draws near, Nigerian politicians are already positioning themselves for power, with defections, lobbying, and permutations at an all-time high. However, amidst the politicking, a crucial question remains unanswered: who is fit to govern Nigeria?

The recent defections of prominent politicians, including El-Rufai to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Okowa to the All Progressives Congress (APC), have raised eyebrows. Several lawmakers have also defected to the ruling party, sparking concerns about the motivations behind these moves.

In Kaduna State, the ruling party has been hit hard by defections, with El-Rufai's loyalists and former appointees resigning from the party. Meanwhile, in Kano, several lawmakers and a senator have defected to the ruling party, bolstering its strength in the state.

However, amidst the politicking, governance issues seem to have taken a backseat. "We get trapped in parties and forget to ask questions about governance," the writer laments. "We do not ask questions about poverty. We forget to discuss issues of unemployment. We do not care about economic stability. What about the heartbreaking issues of insecurity? Sadly, no one cares about that."

The writer also questions the President's motives for welcoming opposition leaders into the ruling party, suggesting that it may be a strategy to divide the opposition. "Is Tinubu afraid of the opposition?" the writer asks.

The writer also criticizes the politicization of project commissioning, noting that politicians are more interested in popularizing themselves than delivering on their mandate. "Politicians now seem to politicize every bit of the project to be commissioned," the writer notes.

The writer expresses concerns about the fate of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), which is internally weak and lacks the requisite manpower to seize power from the ruling party. A possible merger between the SDP, PDP, and other opposition parties is also discussed, with the writer noting that such a move could potentially take the ruling party on a long ride.

Ultimately, the writer's concern is not about who wins the election, but about who is fit to govern Nigeria. "I'm particularly drawn to governance," the writer says. "Who is ready to govern?"