The endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by some northern lecturers has recently generated serious debate in the academia and other public spheres, especially regarding the reservations of opposition parties about the use of academics as collation and returning officers in the 2027 elections It was reported that 600 senior academics drawn from public universities across Northern Nigeria endorsed the second-term bid of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. To join the debate is to ask these questions: Who are academics, and what are their roles in the Nigerian electoral process? Do academics have the right to be partisan?
An academic is a scholar or educator who teaches, conducts research, generates new knowledge, and contributes to the academic and intellectual development of a society The primary role of university academics is multidimensional, encompassing teaching, research, and community service. In contemporary Nigeria, academics have also been perceived as people of integrity. That is why the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) involves them as collation and returning officers.
Furthermore, academics play a vital role in the promotion and management of the electoral process, encompassing contributions to electoral integrity, political education, and the analysis of voting behaviour Academics also play a significant role in enhancing the credibility of electoral processes through their involvement, which fosters public trust and ethical governance. This engagement is crucial for shaping informed citizenry and improving electoral outcomes.
Academic staff participation in Nigerian elections has been shown to improve electoral credibility, with factors such as neutrality and ethical conduct positively influencing voter confidence The involvement of academics in election management, as seen in Nigeria, helps mitigate issues of political interference and enhances the overall integrity of the electoral system. Also, political education provided by academics is vital for increasing awareness and participation among Nigerians. Research indicates that political education can lead to higher levels of citizens’ engagement in elections.
Another important role of academics is the analysis of voting behaviour for future political development They contribute to the understanding of electoral dynamics by analysing socio-psychological factors influencing voter behaviour, such as media impact and party loyalty, among others. This analytical role helps in identifying trends and informing policy reforms, as seen in the works of many academics involved in electoral reform processes.
For academics to maintain their integrity as producers of knowledge, they must remain neutral, especially in their public and political engagements That is why, in his welcome address during the engagement between INEC, the National University Commission (NUC), and Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian universities in 2023, the former Executive Secretary of the NUC, Professor Abubakar Adamu Rasheed, urged lecturers who would be deployed for the 2023 elections to be professional in the discharge of their national duties. He expressed optimism that university academics are people of impeccable character and trustworthiness and advised Vice-Chancellors to scrutinise the staff nominated for the assignment in the interest of the image of the Nigerian University System and the country as a whole.
Consequently, the endorsement of President Tinubu by the “600 senior northern academics” could compromise perceptions of the neutrality of those academics in the 2027 general elections As such, INEC should not use them as collation or returning officers. Being openly partisan raises questions about their neutrality and integrity. As Nigerians, they have the right to support any candidate of their choice, as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This is captured in Section 40 on the right to peaceful assembly and association.
Therefore, all Nigerian academics have the moral responsibility to promote and protect the integrity of Nigerian elections, use their knowledge to guide the electorate in making political choices, and analyse the electoral system for the progress and development of the country The controversy surrounding the endorsement of President Bola Tinubu by some northern academics goes beyond individual political preferences; it raises a fundamental question about the relationship between the political rights of academics and the responsibility entrusted to them in Nigeria’s electoral process. The credibility of Nigeria’s 2027 elections will depend not only on the laws and institutions governing the process but also on the integrity of the academics who will serve as collation and returning officers. Academics have historically enjoyed public confidence because of their perceived commitment to knowledge and professional ethics. They should, therefore, recognise that their public political engagements may create questions about their neutrality when they subsequently undertake sensitive electoral assignments. This does not mean that academics should be denied their constitutional rights; rather, it calls for a clear distinction between their rights as citizens and their responsibilities as academics.
INEC, universities, and academics themselves, therefore, have a shared responsibility to protect the integrity of the electoral process Academics selected for electoral duties must be able to demonstrate impartiality and avoid conduct that could undermine public confidence in their neutrality. The 2027 elections provide an opportunity for academics to reaffirm their traditional role as promoters of knowledge, democratic values, political enlightenment, and credible elections. Their greatest contribution to Nigeria’s democracy should be to strengthen public confidence in the electoral system, irrespective of any candidate or political party.
Dr Mohammed is Editor-at-Large, Media Trust