HURIWA Demands Immediate Sack of Agency Chiefs Campaigning for Tinubu

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately remove from office heads of federal government agencies who have openly embraced partisan politics and are reportedly campaigning for his re-election in 2027.

HURIWA made the demand in a statement issued to journalists in Abuja by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko.

The rights group said reports that serving Directors-General and Chief Executives of federal agencies were seeking roles in the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign structure raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest and the politicisation of public institutions.

According to HURIWA, officials appointed to manage government agencies should not simultaneously serve as political campaigners while remaining in charge of institutions established to serve Nigerians irrespective of their political affiliations.

The association also expressed concern over the reported pledge by the Forum of Chief Executives of Federal Parastatals to mobilise 10 million votes for President Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

HURIWA said serving agency heads should devote their official time and institutional resources to the statutory responsibilities of their respective agencies rather than partisan political mobilisation.

The group argued that federal government agencies are public institutions and should serve Nigerians regardless of political affiliation, ethnicity, religion or ideological persuasion.

It further warned that the involvement of serving agency chiefs in partisan campaign structures could create conflicts of interest, particularly if officials have access to public resources, government networks and institutional platforms.

HURIWA said such activities could undermine public confidence in the neutrality of government institutions and distract agency leadership from their statutory responsibilities.

The association therefore urged President Tinubu to remove any serving agency chief who chooses active partisan campaigning over the neutral administration of his or her government agency.

It also called for the appointment of professionals and technocrats capable of concentrating on the statutory mandates of the affected institutions.

“Officials who genuinely wish to participate actively in partisan politics should first relinquish their government appointments rather than combine political campaigning with the management of public institutions,” the group said.

HURIWA further rejected what it described as any attempt to turn federal agencies into extensions of the APC campaign machinery.

The association raised particular concern over reports of a proposed complementary campaign structure allegedly being promoted by agency chiefs, with responsibilities reportedly covering grassroots mobilisation, media management, election planning and monitoring.

According to the group, such activities would further blur the distinction between official government responsibilities and partisan political campaigns.

HURIWA maintained that campaign mobilisation is a political function and should not become an additional responsibility of serving heads of federal agencies.

It also warned against the use of public funds, official vehicles, government facilities, personnel, institutional databases and other resources attached to public offices for the electoral interests of any political party or candidate.

The rights group urged the Presidency to take steps to protect the integrity of federal institutions and ensure that government machinery is not diverted to partisan political activities ahead of the 2027 elections.

HURIWA said Nigerians require public institutions focused on governance, development and service delivery, rather than agencies whose leadership becomes preoccupied with electoral campaigns.

The association therefore called on the Presidency to establish a clear distinction between government administration and partisan politics and ensure that serving federal agency chiefs comply with applicable rules governing public office and political activity.