The Parliamentary Advocacy Centre has criticised House of Representatives Minority Leader Fred Agbedi for urging President Bola Tinubu to suspend 2027 election-related activities and focus solely on tackling insecurity and economic hardship.
In a statement on Monday signed by its President Itodo Vincent, the centre described Agbedi’s remarks as politically motivated and unhelpful to genuine efforts at resolving national challenges. Agbedi had last week called on the President to prioritise the welfare and security of Nigerians over what he termed early political calculations. He suggested suspending election preparations and warned of consequences if security did not improve within six months.
The centre acknowledged the validity of concerns about insecurity but warned against politicising the issue. “It is unfortunate that Hon Fred Agbedi chose to politicise an issue as sensitive as national security,” the statement said. It argued that Nigeria’s security challenges predate the current administration and require sustained bipartisan cooperation rather than partisan ultimatums. The group urged political leaders to offer constructive ideas instead of inflammatory comments aimed at scoring political points ahead of 2027.
The centre expressed sympathy for victims of kidnapping, banditry and other violent crimes, and called for national unity in addressing the crisis. This exchange highlights the tension between political opposition and governance as the country grapples with persistent insecurity. While critics of the government argue that security must take precedence over politics, others warn that suspending democratic processes could set dangerous precedents and undermine constitutional governance.
Analysts believe such calls, though well-intentioned in highlighting insecurity, risk being perceived as opportunistic, especially when coming from opposition figures. The Parliamentary Advocacy Centre’s response emphasises the need for collaborative, non-partisan approaches to national challenges rather than using them as campaign tools. As 2027 approaches, the debate over balancing security, economic recovery, and democratic continuity is expected to intensify, with civil society groups playing a key role in demanding accountability from all political actors.
