The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) says President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should immediately sack Directors-General and Chief Executives of federal government agencies who have openly embraced partisan politics and campaigns for his re-election in 2027.
HURIWA says the reported decision by serving heads of federal agencies to seek roles in the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council raises serious concerns about conflict of interest and the politicisation of public institutions.
The association says it is unacceptable for officials appointed to manage government agencies to simultaneously position themselves as political campaigners for the President while remaining in charge of institutions established to serve all Nigerians.
HURIWA says the reported pledge by the Forum of Chief Executives of Federal Parastatals to mobilise 10 million votes for President Tinubu makes the situation even more troubling.
The rights group says serving Directors-General and Chief Executives should devote their official time, attention and institutional resources to the statutory mandates of their agencies rather than partisan political mobilisation.
HURIWA insists that federal government agencies belong to the Nigerian people and must serve citizens irrespective of their political affiliation, ethnicity, religion or ideological persuasion.
The association says allowing serving agency chiefs to openly participate in partisan campaign structures creates a serious conflict of interest, particularly where the officials could have access to public resources, government networks and institutional platforms.
HURIWA warns that the situation could undermine public confidence in the neutrality of government institutions and distract them from their statutory responsibilities.
The association therefore calls on President Tinubu to remove any serving agency chief who has chosen partisan campaigning over the neutral administration of his or her government agency.
HURIWA says the President should appoint technocrats and professionals with the capacity and commitment to concentrate on the mandates of the affected institutions.
The rights group says officials who genuinely wish to participate actively in partisan politics should first relinquish their government appointments rather than combine political campaigning with the management of public institutions.
HURIWA also rejects any attempt to turn federal agencies into extensions of the APC campaign machinery.
The association says the proposed complementary campaign structure reportedly being promoted by the agency chiefs, with responsibilities covering grassroots mobilisation, media management, election planning and monitoring, further blurs the line between official government duties and partisan political activity.
HURIWA insists that campaign mobilisation is a political function and should not become an additional responsibility of serving heads of federal agencies.
The group says public funds, official vehicles, government facilities, personnel, institutional databases and other resources attached to public offices must never serve the electoral interests of any political party or candidate.
HURIWA urges President Tinubu to act immediately to protect the integrity of the federal public service and prevent the machinery of government from being diverted into partisan political activities ahead of the 2027 elections.
The association says Nigerians need public institutions that remain focused on governance, development and service delivery, not agencies whose leadership becomes preoccupied with electoral campaigns.
HURIWA therefore demands that the Presidency draw a clear line between government administration and partisan politics and ensure that every serving federal agency chief respects that distinction.
Signed:
Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko
National Coordinator, HURIWA
October 2, 2026
