A recent gathering of senior academics from various universities across Northern Nigeria has sparked controversy after they endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's re-election bid. The meeting, convened by Ibrahim Masari, special adviser to the president on political matters, was attended by several northern governors and federal ministers. This development has raised concerns about the role of academics in Nigeria's electoral system, particularly given their traditional neutrality in the process.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) relies heavily on academics, including vice-chancellors and senior university officials, as returning and collation officers during elections. Their selection is based on their professional standing and presumed neutrality, which lends credibility to the process. However, the open endorsement of a presidential candidate by these academics has created a dilemma, making it challenging to reconcile their role with their partisan position.
INEC has been urged to investigate the identities and roles of those involved and establish whether any will serve as returning or collation officers in the 2027 elections. The commission must weigh carefully whether entrusting individuals who have publicly taken a partisan position with collating or declaring results involving that candidate is compatible with public confidence in the process. This is not just about individual trust but also about perception.
The African Democratic Congress has expressed concerns over the use of politically exposed academics as returning and collation officers, urging INEC to review its approach. This endorsement is part of a broader pattern of organised political backing by influential groups, including northern religious figures and students. Student leaders from tertiary institutions across the 19 northern states and the FCT recently announced an organised mobilisation effort for Tinubu.
While there is nothing inherently wrong with political mobilisation, the consequences of such developments deserve careful consideration. Academics, like clerics, hold sway over people of differing political affiliations, and their public endorsement of a candidate can create animosity. The university has historically been a centre of intellectual debate, social criticism, and democratic activism in Nigeria, and it should remain a place where ideas are rigorously interrogated, not an extension of political campaign machinery.
This controversy comes at a time when the country's intellectual community is grappling with serious economic pressure, including the pauperisation of citizens, which has touched virtually every segment of society, including academics. However, hardship should not diminish the responsibility of intellectuals to protect institutions whose credibility is essential to democracy. The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has stated that it remains apolitical, and members are free to engage in politics only in their individual capacities.
As Nigeria approaches the 2027 election, INEC must act with foresight and develop clear criteria for handling prospective electoral officials who have taken open partisan positions. The commission must ensure that the controversy does not become another source of voter apathy and that Nigerians have confidence in the electoral process. INEC must also be vigilant against anything that could reasonably raise suspicion about its neutrality, and academics who wish to serve in sensitive electoral roles must recognise the need for a higher standard of restraint.
Key points
- The endorsement of President Tinubu's re-election bid by over 600 senior academics from Northern Nigeria has raised concerns over the credibility of the electoral process.
- INEC has been urged to investigate the identities and roles of those involved and establish whether any will serve as returning or collation officers in the 2027 elections.
- The controversy highlights the need for INEC to develop clear criteria for handling prospective electoral officials who have taken open partisan positions.
