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Former Deputy Senate Minority Leader, Senator Bala Ibn Na’allah, has warned Nigerian politicians against reckless statements and personal attacks ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Na’allah said politicians should place the interests of Nigeria above their personal ambitions, stressing that inflammatory rhetoric and attacks on political opponents could have serious consequences for the country.
The former lawmaker spoke during an interview with ARISE NEWS on Monday while expressing concern over the tone of political activities ahead of the 2027 elections.
Na’allah said he was particularly worried by reports that President Bola Tinubu had said “everything is fair in politics,” although he noted that he had not personally seen the President make the statement.
According to him, politicians must be mindful of their words and actions and consider how their conduct could affect the country beyond the election.
“The idea is an indirect message saying politicians should guard their utterances. They should be very careful and put this country first before whatever ambition.”
Na’allah said he had observed behaviour among some politicians that suggested the political contest was already becoming overly personal ahead of the full campaign season.
“I am worried about some of the behaviors I have seen so far as a prelude to the full engagement in the campaign for 2027,” he said.
He warned that attacking political leaders without considering the wider consequences could create problems for the country.
“I have seen people who have abandoned the country itself and begun to attack a leader without minding the consequences of that personal attack on the country as a whole. The signal doesn’t look too good to me, and it should be a matter of concern to every responsible Nigerian.”
The former senator also raised questions about what would happen after the 2027 presidential election, regardless of who is declared the winner.
He said Nigerians and political actors must be prepared to accept the outcome of the election, asking what the consequences would be if the Independent National Electoral Commission declared Tinubu the winner or announced a different result.
“With the way things are going on, two questions remain valid—and will continue to remain valid until the day of the election and the day after when the result is announced,” Na’allah said.
“What happens if INEC says Tinubu has won the election? And what happens if INEC says he has not won?”
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On the credibility of the 2027 elections, Na’allah said the outcome of the recent Osun governorship election had strengthened his confidence in INEC’s ability to conduct a credible poll.
He argued that despite the presence of several senior members of the All Progressives Congress, including about 20 governors and the Senate President, the party could not determine the outcome of the Osun election.
“If all of them in Osun could not change what happened in Osun, we keep praying that that same thing will happen in the entire country come 2027,” he said.
Na’allah also explained why he remained in the APC despite losing his 2023 Senate re-election bid to Garba Maidoki.
He said his continued membership was based on his belief in the party’s founding ideals rather than a desire to secure an elective position.
“I am not in politics for elective offices. That cannot be a reason for you to leave a party that you have worked for,” he said.
The former lawmaker, however, acknowledged that the APC had faced serious challenges, saying many Nigerians no longer felt comfortable or confident that the country was being properly managed.
“Nigerians have not found it convenient or comfortable to go to bed and sleep, feeling that their country is in safe hands under the present political arrangement,” he said.
Na’allah also criticised the failure of successive administrations to fully deliver on their campaign promises, questioning why former President Muhammadu Buhari could not translate his promises into results and why some Nigerians remain dissatisfied with Tinubu’s Renewed Hope administration.
He further cautioned political leaders against appointing individuals whose primary focus is their own political ambitions, arguing that such appointees could devote more attention to securing their political future than delivering on the government’s mandate.
Na’allah said he remained available to serve but was not desperate for an appointment or elective office, noting that he could continue his professional life as a lawyer and businessman.
Looking ahead to 2027, he said he remained an APC member but would respect the decision of his constituents if they chose another political party.
“I am APC. If for whatever reason my people believe that APC is not the party they want, there is nothing I can do,” he said.
