Ahead of the 2027 general elections, some Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) have warned politicians against do-or-die politics, urging them to abide by the rules and allow the electorate to freely choose their leaders.
The senior lawyers, who spoke with journalists at the weekend during a prayer session to mark the opening and dedication of a new law office belonging to their colleague, Johnson Usman, SAN, in Abuja, urged political parties and their members to comply with the Constitution, Electoral Act 2026 and relevant party guidelines.
They said strict adherence to the rules would promote peaceful, free and fair elections while reducing avoidable post-election disputes and litigation.

Abdul Mohammed, SAN, urged members of the political class to demonstrate maturity and focus their campaigns on issues before, during and after the elections.
“We want a peaceful transition, a peaceful election. And as such, we will want politicians to play by the rules,” Mohammed said.

He urged politicians to shun actions capable of undermining peaceful and credible elections, stressing that Nigeria must demonstrate to the international community that it had matured democratically by ensuring peaceful elections and transitions.

“They should understand that it is the choice of the electorate that matters. So there should be no do-or-die affairs in the campaign that is going on,” he said.

Also speaking, Jibrin Okutepa, SAN, said politics should be conducted according to established rules, stressing that the rule of law must remain supreme in all political activities.
“Politicians should allow the people decide who leads us in this country. We don’t want political imposition either at the party, state or national level,” Okutepa said.

The Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Abuja Branch, Yakubu Philemon, SAN, called on all stakeholders in the electoral process to play their respective roles fairly, reminding politicians that elective positions were primarily positions of service to the people.
“Therefore, their campaigns should not be about individuals, they should not go personal. They should concentrate on the issues; what are the problems and what are the solutions they can proffer to solve these problems?” Philemon said.

He also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure transparency and fairness in the conduct of the elections, saying a credible electoral process would strengthen public confidence and make it easier for defeated candidates to accept the outcome.

The lawyers also congratulated Usman on the opening of his new purpose-built law office, which Mohammed described as a significant investment in the legal profession, with a rich library and several meeting rooms.
Okutepa described the facility as “fantastic” and urged Usman to continue to uphold the integrity of the legal profession through honesty, dedication and hard work.

Philemon urged Usman to use the new office as a platform for mentoring younger lawyers and promoting excellence in the legal profession.

Chief Mrs Wendy Kuku, SAN, attributed Usman’s achievement to his faith, resilience and hard work, saying the new office was the product of years of dedication, perseverance and support from his family.