Nigeria: When 2027 Elections become the Fulcrum of Today’s Governance

 When Political Solidarity Exceeds Governance Solidarity

One recent political development has attracted public attention. According to media reports, several governors of the ruling party, accompanied by the Vice President and other prominent party leaders, converged on Ado-Ekiti to demonstrate support for Governor Biodun Oyebanji's re-election bid ahead of the off-cycle governorship election.

As we all know, there is nothing inherently wrong with political support. Democracy permits political mobilization, consultation, campaigns, and elections. These are legitimate components of democratic governance.
However, a troubling question arises in the minds of many citizens:
Why do such remarkable speed, coordination, energy, and solidarity often appear during political campaigns, yet seem largely absent when innocent citizens are being kidnapped, displaced, or killed?
Many Nigerians wonder:
• If leaders can mobilize so quickly for elections, why can they not mobilize with equal urgency against insecurity?
• If governors can leave their states to attend political rallies, why do we seldom witness the same collective resolve when communities are under attack?
• If political survival can unite leaders across regions, why does the preservation of human lives not generate the same level of unity?
These are not merely political questions. They are moral questions. They are questions of stewardship.
The Lord declared through the prophet Jeremiah:
"Execute judgment in the morning, and deliver him who is plundered out of the hand of the oppressor..." (Jeremiah 21:12).
Notice God's priority.
Before campaigns, there is protection.
Before endorsements, there is justice.
Before political strategy, there is human life.
The value God places on human life is immeasurable. Throughout Scripture, leaders were judged not primarily by their political achievements but by how they treated the people entrusted to their care.
When David numbered Israel for reasons connected to power and prestige, God was displeased because leadership had shifted from service to self-interest.
When the shepherds of Israel neglected the flock, God rebuked them through Ezekiel:
“The weak you have not strengthened, nor have you healed those who were sick, nor bound up the broken, nor brought back what was driven away, nor sought what was lost; but with force and cruelty you have ruled them”. Ezekiel 34:4
The greatest tragedy of a nation is not political competition; it is when political ambition overshadows human suffering.
A government should never appear more passionate about winning the next election than protecting citizens today.
A ruling party should never demonstrate greater urgency in organizing rallies than in confronting insecurity.
A political class should never become more united in preserving power than in preserving lives.
The blood of innocent citizens cries louder before God than the cheers of political rallies.
The tears of widows matter more to God than electoral calculations.
The fears of villagers sleeping with one eye open because of kidnappers concern Heaven more than the permutations of the next election cycle.
This is why Proverbs 29:2 declares:
" When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice;
But when a wicked man rules, the people groan.”
The true test of leadership is not how many political allies stand on a campaign platform.
The true test is whether ordinary people can travel safely on the roads, sleep peacefully in their homes, farm without fear, and pursue their livelihoods without constant threats to life and property.
As the nation moves toward future elections, the Church must remind leaders of a timeless truth:
The first campaign of every government is governance.
The most persuasive political advertisement is performance.
The strongest endorsement is security.
The most convincing campaign slogan is fulfilled responsibility.
And the greatest testimony of leadership is not the size of a rally but the welfare of the people.
This raises a fundamental question:
What happens when tomorrow's election becomes the controlling factor of today's governance?
The issue is not elections themselves. Elections are necessary in a democracy. The issue is when preparation for future political advantage begins to overshadow present responsibility.
God's principle has always been clear: every season has its purpose.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 declares:
"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven."
There is a season for campaigning and a season for governing.
There is a season for seeking office and a season for justifying the trust of the people.
Confusion begins when leaders attempt to live permanently in campaign season while neglecting the season of stewardship entrusted to them.
1. A Leader who governs for the Next Elections Forgets the Purpose of Leadership
Leadership is fundamentally stewardship.
Power is not ownership; it is trusteeship.
Public office does not belong to the office holder. It is a temporary trust granted by God and the people for the purpose of service.
God did not place rulers in authority primarily to win elections but to serve people.
Jeremiah 22:3 says:
"Do justice and righteousness, and deliver the spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor."
Notice that God did not say, "Prepare for the next election."
He said, "Do justice."
Whenever leaders become more concerned about retaining power than solving problems, governance becomes performance rather than service.
Biblical Example: King Saul
Saul's greatest concern gradually shifted from pleasing God to preserving his throne.
After his disobedience, he pleaded:
"Honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people" (1 Samuel 15:30).
His focus was no longer obedience but political survival.
Many governments fall into the same trap.
Instead of asking, "What is right?" they ask, "What will improve our political chances?"

2. Governance Suffers when Politics Dominates every Decision
A nation cannot move forward when every policy is evaluated solely through electoral calculations.

When politicians become obsessed with the next election:
Long-term reforms are abandoned.
Difficult but necessary decisions are avoided.
Resources are diverted toward political interests.
Public institutions become tools for political advantage.
Biblical Example: Rehoboam
Rehoboam sought immediate political strength rather than wise governance.
Instead of listening to counsel that would unite the kingdom, he pursued a show of power.

The result?!
The kingdom split.
When image becomes more important than impact, division often follows.
3. Citizens Pay the Price when Governance is suspended.
The tragedy of excessive politicking is that ordinary people bear the consequences.
While politicians discuss future victories:
The unemployed remain unemployed.
Roads remain bad.
Schools remain inadequate.
Hospitals remain underfunded.
Security challenges persist.
Proverbs 29:2 declares:
"When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice;
But when a wicked man rules, the people groan.
The true measure of leadership is not how many supporters cheer at rallies but how many citizens experience improved living conditions.
4. God Judges Leaders by their Stewardship, Not their Political Success
History remembers many leaders who won elections but failed their people.
God's judgment is different from human judgment.
Luke 16:10 says:
"He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much."
At God's throne, leaders will not be asked:
How many votes did you secure?
How many political opponents did you defeat?
How many endorsements did you receive?
They will be asked:
Did you serve faithfully?
Did you defend the weak?
Did you promote justice?
Did you use power for the common good?
The Lord rewards stewardship, not political cleverness.
5. The Church must Not become an Extension of Political Campaigns
As election seasons approach, churches often come under pressure to become political platforms.
The Church must:
Speak truth to power.
Pray for leaders.
Encourage civic responsibility.
Promote righteousness.
Refuse manipulation by political interests.
The prophet Nathan did not become David's campaign manager.
He remained God's messenger.
The Church loses its prophetic voice whenever it becomes captive to political interests.
6. The Responsibilities of Citizens
The burden is not only on leaders.
Citizens also have responsibilities before God and society.
Before blaming leaders alone, citizens must ask themselves:
Do we reward integrity or patronage?
Do we vote based on competence or sentiment?
Do we hold leaders accountable after elections?
Do we celebrate character or merely political influence?
Voters should ask:
What has this leader done with the current mandate?
Has governance improved?
Are promises being fulfilled?
Is there evidence of competence and integrity?
A healthy democracy evaluates performance before rewarding ambition.
A nation ultimately receives the quality of leadership it consistently rewards.
CONCLUSION
The danger before every nation is that tomorrow's election may become more important than today's assignment.
When 2027 becomes the fulcrum of today's governance:
Service becomes politics.
Stewardship becomes ambition.
Governance becomes campaign.
Citizens become spectators.
Development becomes secondary.
Human suffering becomes background noise.
Yet God's command remains unchanged:
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:33.
Nations do not collapse because elections are held.
Nations decline when elections become more important than governance.
A government may win another mandate and still lose the confidence of the people.
A leader may secure political endorsements and yet fail the test of stewardship before God.
The challenge before every leader is simple:
Govern today so faithfully that tomorrow's election becomes a reward, not a distraction.
Govern so responsibly that performance becomes your campaign manager.
Govern so justly that the people become your strongest advertisement.
Govern so faithfully that your stewardship can withstand both public scrutiny and divine judgment.
For when governance is righteous, security improves.
Justice flourishes.
Citizens rejoice.
The vulnerable are protected.
The nation prospers.
And God is glorified.

Jesus is Lord