2027: Governorship Campaigns Begin As Candidates Unveil Fresh Promises

Governorship candidates and political parties across Nigeria have officially stepped up their campaigns for the 2027 elections, with security, agriculture, education, healthcare, workers’ welfare and economic development dominating the early promises being presented to voters.

The campaign period for the governorship and State House of Assembly elections formally began on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, opening a fresh phase of political activity across the states ahead of the February 6, 2027 elections.

In the North-West, the seven governorship candidates of the African Democratic Congress unveiled a regional development compact covering the 2027 to 2031 period. The candidates pledged to introduce a minimum wage of N110,000 across the seven states and work together on issues that cross state boundaries.

The compact, signed at the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, contains proposals on security, agriculture, healthcare, education, infrastructure and regional economic cooperation. Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice and Kebbi ADC candidate, Abubakar Malami, SAN, said the candidates would remain responsible for their individual states while jointly addressing challenges affecting the wider region.

Under the agreement, the ADC candidates promised coordinated security operations, intelligence and data sharing, technology-driven surveillance and rapid-response networks across the region. They also proposed a North-West Regional Security Coordination Centre and the use of drones to strengthen security operations across the region’s 21 senatorial districts.

Agriculture also featured prominently in the North-West agenda, with the candidates proposing protected farming corridors, formalised livestock production, agro-processing, a regional grain reserve and rehabilitation of irrigation infrastructure. They also promised an education emergency programme, improved access to UBEC funding and measures to integrate Almajiri and Tsangaya children into formal education.

Healthcare was another major area of the compact, with the candidates promising to revitalise primary healthcare centres, expand midwifery, telemedicine and community health insurance, as well as establish one specialist hospital in each of the region’s 21 senatorial districts.

In Adamawa, APC governorship candidate Tijani Galadima placed agriculture and security at the centre of his campaign, promising to establish processing factories that would enable farmers to earn more from their produce.

Galadima said many farmers were receiving poor returns because they sold raw agricultural products, while those involved in processing made greater profits. He also identified insecurity as a major obstacle to farming and promised to tackle the problem so farmers could safely return to their farms.

In Kaduna, the APC launched its governorship and State House of Assembly campaigns with a promise to run an issue-based contest without insults or personal attacks. The party said it would campaign across the state’s 23 local government areas while highlighting what it described as achievements of Governor Uba Sani’s administration.

The party cited areas including education, healthcare, sports and skills acquisition, but acknowledged that insecurity remained a challenge that had not been completely eliminated.

In Abia, PDP governorship candidate Kelechi Anosike launched a 10-point manifesto tagged “People First, Abia Always”, promising a broad programme covering agriculture, economic development, healthcare, education, workers’ welfare, rural development, youth and women empowerment, housing, justice, security and infrastructure.

Anosike proposed “Operation Feed Abia”, which would involve mechanised farming, stronger extension services and support for farmers, including the provision of tractors through local governments. He also promised a Traders Microfinance Bank in Aba offering interest-free revolving loans of between N500,000 and N2m to traders and artisans through registered cooperatives.

The PDP candidate further promised to establish three industries annually, provide entrepreneurship grants and introduce a state health insurance programme under which the government would cover 60 per cent of medical costs.

For education, Anosike promised scholarships, entrepreneurship grants for graduates and better welfare for teachers. He also pledged a N90,000 minimum wage for workers and promised to settle outstanding allowances, gratuities and pension arrears within 100 days if elected.

In Ogun State, PDP candidate Oladipupo Adebutu launched his campaign under the ITURA DE agenda, promising to focus on security, local government autonomy, workers’ welfare, urban development, transportation, agriculture, industrial growth, youth and women empowerment, education and healthcare.

Adebutu promised to secure farms, highways and communities while restoring what he described as financial and administrative autonomy to local governments. He also pledged to address withheld pensions and gratuities and review the Contributory Pension Scheme.

On the economy, the Ogun PDP candidate promised zero-interest loans and single-digit financing for farmers, vocational training for young people and a review of multiple taxation affecting traders and small businesses.

As campaigns begin, political actors in several states have also been warned against violence, hate speech, fake news and personal attacks.

In Sokoto, Commissioner of Police Hayatu Shafa urged political parties and their supporters to make the 2027 contest one based on ideas and policies. He warned against hate speech, character assassination, destruction of campaign materials and the use of weapons during political activities.

Shafa also warned party leaders that they could be held responsible for the conduct of their supporters, including youth groups and social media influencers, while urging politicians to avoid exposing voters to danger in areas affected by banditry.

Similar appeals have emerged from Kano, where the state government urged political parties and candidates to focus on their policies, programmes and records rather than insults and provocation.

Meanwhile, the early campaign season has already produced disputes over political advertising. In Kwara, the PDP and the state government exchanged accusations over the removal of campaign billboards belonging to PDP governorship candidate Suleiman Bolakale Kawu.

The Kwara State Signage and Advertisement Agency said one of the billboards was removed because it lacked regulatory approval and allegedly created safety concerns, while the PDP accused the government of suppressing opposition activities.

The growing political activity has also prompted broader warnings from human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Monday Ubani, who urged political actors not to allow the 2027 contest to degenerate into violence and intimidation.

Ubani warned that Nigeria had a history of politically motivated violence and urged candidates to compete through policies, programmes and performance rather than treating political opponents as enemies.

With the governorship campaign season now underway, candidates across the country are presenting competing promises on security, jobs, agriculture, education, healthcare, infrastructure and workers’ welfare. The coming months will show which of these promises can translate from campaign messages into convincing programmes for voters ahead of the 2027 elections.