IMPACT OF EARLY CAMPAIGNING ON GOVERNANCE AND POLICY DELIVERY IN NIGERIA: A CASE STUDY OF THE 2027 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

Abstract

In recent years, Nigeria has experienced a consistent pattern of early campaigningin the election cycle, which influences the political behaviour of elites. This poses a serious threatto democratic governance and service delivery in Nigeria. The paper critically analyses thephenomenon of early campaigning and mobilisation by political aspirants and their supportersbefore the official campaign period begins. It examines how ruling parties and opposition groupsuse early campaigning tactics without regard for existing electoral laws. Public Choice Theory andGood Governance Theory were adopted as the theoretical frameworks of analysis. Secondary datacollected from internet sources, journals, official documents, including NBS release, foreign andlocal newspapers, legal documents, and academic literature were analysed, using the contentanalysis method to identify macro-governance constraints and policy gaps that hinder therealisation of democratic benefits in Nigeria. Evidence from other democracies was compared toNigeria’s experience to extract lessons. The findings indicate that early campaigning has had anegative impact on governance and service delivery, exploiting weaknesses in the Constitutionand the Electoral Act 2022. This phenomenon has impacted public funds and eroded thefoundations of governance and service delivery objectives. The paper concludes with policy andinstitutional recommendations aimed at closing legal loopholes and ensuring strict compliancewith electoral laws in Nigeria, particularly by strengthening INEC’s capacity to enforce these lawsand prevent distractions from governance and service delivery.