The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has raised the alarm over what it describes as an emerging and disturbing pattern of partisan capture of influential traditional, religious and academic institutions ahead of the 2027 general elections.
HURIWA says the systematic visits by the Presidential Campaign Council of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to first-class and highly influential traditional rulers across the country, coupled with public endorsements and appeals for a renewed mandate, should concern every Nigerian who believes in credible, competitive and genuinely democratic elections.
The association says the development is no longer something that can simply be dismissed as routine political courtesy.
HURIWA observes that the campaign council appears to be deliberately targeting traditional institutions with enormous influence over millions of Nigerians, while similar political endorsements are emerging from religious and academic circles.
The association particularly condemns the reported endorsement of President Tinubu by the Oba of Lagos who illogically and comically claimed that there’s no vacancy in AsoRock comes 2027, and also the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, and the endorsement by student leaders representing tertiary institutions across the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory.
HURIWA insists that traditional palaces, religious platforms and academic institutions must not become extensions of partisan campaign headquarters.
The association acknowledges the constitutional right of every traditional ruler, cleric, academic, student or private citizen to hold political opinions and support any candidate. But HURIWA draws a firm distinction between an individual’s political preference and the use of an institution enjoying enormous public trust and influence to advance partisan interests.
The rights group warns that when traditional, religious or academic institutions are repeatedly deployed as platforms for partisan endorsements, their neutrality, credibility and moral authority are placed at serious risk.
HURIWA therefore calls on traditional rulers, religious leaders, university authorities, student organisations and other influential institutions to reject the conversion of their platforms into political campaign machinery, regardless of the political party involved.
The association says the growing pattern of palace visits and endorsements must be subjected to intense public scrutiny because elections are ultimately about the free choice of citizens, not the political preferences of influential individuals or institutions.
HURIWA warns that no traditional ruler, religious leader, academic authority or student organisation has the constitutional power to determine how Nigerians will vote in 2027.
The people, and only the people through their votes, possess that democratic authority.
The association consequently calls on the Independent National Electoral Commission to remain uncompromising in protecting the electoral process from partisan pressure and institutional interference.
HURIWA also calls on security and law-enforcement agencies to ensure that no Nigerian is intimidated, threatened, induced or coerced because of his or her political preference.
The association demands that all political parties be given equal opportunity to campaign, organise and communicate their programmes to Nigerians without the political machinery of the ruling party overwhelming traditionally neutral institutions.
HURIWA says the 2027 election must not become an exercise in which political power is projected through traditional palaces, religious establishments, campuses and other institutions before ordinary citizens are given the opportunity to make their own choices.
The association particularly urges the leadership of traditional institutions to remember that their legitimacy transcends individual political administrations and political parties.
A palace belongs to the people and history; it must not become a campaign office for any political party.
HURIWA similarly urges religious and academic institutions to defend their independence and refuse to allow partisan politics to destroy the public confidence painstakingly built around them.
The association warns that the credibility of the 2027 elections will depend not only on what happens on election day but also on whether Nigerians believe that the political environment preceding the election was sufficiently open, neutral and free from undue institutional influence.
HURIWA therefore calls on all national institutions of traditional, religious and academic practitioners to speak up now and condemn the partisan exploitation of their institutions.
The association urges Nigerians to remain vigilant and resist every attempt to substitute the preference of powerful individuals or institutions for the constitutional right of citizens to freely choose their leaders.
Signed
Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko
National Coordinator
Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA)
16th July, 2026
