2026: Governance must not be sacrificed on the altar of 2027 politicking

As Nigeria steps into 2026, the national mood is a complex tapestry of relief and apprehension. For millions of citizens, merely surviving the rigours of 2025, a year defined by relentless insecurity, a soaring cost of living, and crippling labour disputes was a monumental achievement.

Yet, as the new year unfolds, a distinct and urgent danger lurks, the temptation for the political class to abandon the hard work of governance for the distraction of the 2027 general elections.

With the next election cycle now appearing on the horizon, the most pressing demand from the electorate is that public office must not be reduced to a mere staging ground for future ambitions. There is a palpable fear that the business of government will grind to a halt as politicians pivot to campaign mode, prioritizing partisan strategy over public welfare.

Nigeria cannot afford a year of stagnation. The electorate cannot countenance a leadership distracted by the allure of 2027 while the problems of 2026 remain unsolved. Those in authority must govern with seriousness, integrity, and accountability, public office is a responsibility to serve, not a personal playground for electioneering.

Insecurity remains the most critical metric by which the government will be judged. Citizens are weary of reactive measures and performative public relations exercises that inevitably follow tragedies. The demand is for a comprehensive, intelligence-driven security strategy that coordinates inter-agency efforts to crush the apparatus of terror.

To this end, international partnerships must be leveraged aggressively. The recent collaboration with the United States exemplified by the Sokoto airstrike demonstrates the efficacy of combining local intelligence with superior foreign technology. This approach must be deepened and expanded to reclaim ungoverned spaces from bandits and terrorists.

Beyond security, the sanctity of democratic institutions must be preserved against the encroaching desperation of political survivalists. The use of technology, particularly the electronic transmission of election results, must be fortified by law and protected from manipulation to restore faith in the ballot.

Economically, the government must ensure that reforms, particularly in taxation, are implemented with transparency and fairness. Policies must target growth and poverty alleviation rather than placing deeper burdens on an already exhausted populace.

Ultimately, Nigerians demand safety, opportunity, and dignity. They seek communities free from fear, schools that remain open, and an economy that allows them to earn a living in peace. 2026 must be a year where leadership rises to the occasion.

The warning is clear, the political class must not allow the politics of 2027 to suffocate the progress of 2026. The welfare of the people must take precedence over the ambition of the few.