A non-partisan group of elder statesmen and prominent Nigerians known as The Patriots, led by former Commonwealth Secretary-General Emeka Anyaoku, has raised fresh concerns about worsening insecurity, poverty, and governance challenges in Nigeria ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Insecurity Crisis
At a briefing yesterday, Anyaoku stated that The Patriots were deeply disturbed by continued killings, kidnappings, and community displacements by bandits, particularly in the North-East, North-West, North-Central, and parts of the South-West. The group noted that the growing number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and the inability of many farmers to return to their farms pose a major threat to food security.
The Patriots urged the Federal Government to treat insecurity as a national protection, governance, and economic survival crisis. They called for the urgent establishment of a special committee to advise on measures to tackle the various dimensions of the challenge.
Poverty Concerns
While acknowledging economic reforms introduced by the Federal Government that improved macroeconomic prospects, The Patriots expressed concern that poverty levels remained unacceptably high, especially in rural communities. The group referenced figures from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) indicating that about 63 percent of Nigerians live in multidimensional poverty.
Call for Constitutional Reform
The Patriots reiterated their longstanding call for a new democratic constitution, arguing that the current governance structure derived from the 1999 Constitution was imposed by a military regime and cannot adequately address Nigeria's numerous challenges. The group recalled resolutions from its National Summit in Abuja in July 2024, attended by representatives of women, youth groups, and socio-cultural organisations from all six geopolitical zones, during which participants advocated restructuring and a people-driven constitution.
Political Party Conduct
On the 2027 elections, The Patriots decried the absence of ideology-based politics among political parties, saying this encourages frequent defections by elected officials and reinforces the perception that parties serve merely as platforms for acquiring power. The group urged political parties to focus their campaigns on issues affecting Nigerians rather than engaging in personal attacks and political hostility.
The Patriots also expressed concern about what they described as the collapse of public institutions and the decline of national values. They urged Nigerians to vote in 2027 for candidates and parties committed to restructuring the governance system. The group warned that the international community would closely monitor the conduct of the 2027 elections at federal, state, and local council levels.
Cost of Politics
Another major concern raised was the rising cost of politics in Nigeria, particularly high fees for nomination and expression of interest forms, which they said have effectively shut out ordinary Nigerians from participating in the political process. The group argued that professionals such as teachers and other capable citizens with valuable contributions can no longer afford to contest elections under the present system.
