Senate President Godswill Akpabio has said the 2027 election season will not disrupt legislative activities and insisted that federal lawmakers can combine campaign duties with their constitutional responsibilities.
Akpabio said lawmakers would continue working throughout their four-year tenure, while campaign activities have been scheduled around parliamentary business rather than allowing them to interfere with it.
The Senate President spoke with journalists at the presidential wing of the Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, after attending a meeting of All Progressives Congress (APC)b stakeholders in Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District.
At the meeting, President Bola Tinubu, Akpabio, and Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno received unanimous endorsements for another term in office in 2027.
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Akpabio said the approaching election would not create a conflict between political mobilisation and legislative work. He noted that lawmakers belong to different political parties and would not all be campaigning at the same time.
“We are elected for four years, and we are going to work for four years. Anybody that is walking on the tiny rope must be able to do the balancing act,” he said.
He added that politicians could organise their campaign engagements outside legislative hours.
“We are politicians, and campaigns will start very soon. Campaigns can be fixed in the afternoons or evenings while we do our work in the mornings,” Akpabio said.
The Senate President dismissed concerns that the election cycle could weaken the productivity of the National Assembly and that lawmakers would continue to legislate on matters affecting Nigerians.
He said, “It is not a problem at all. It is not everybody who will go for a campaign at the same time because we belong to different political parties. Nothing will affect legislation.
“We will continue to make laws to take care of the needs of the people. It has never affected the work of the parliament.”
His comments come as political activity ahead of the 2027 general elections gathers momentum, while politicians are already holding consultations and securing endorsements across the country.
However, Akpabio’s position is that the electoral calendar should not displace the core responsibilities for which lawmakers were elected.
The Senate President’s remarks also place emphasis on time management by legislators, with morning hours, in his proposed arrangement, dedicated to parliamentary business and later periods available for campaign engagements.
The position suggests that lawmakers seeking re-election or backing candidates for other offices will be expected to manage both commitments without compromising legislative proceedings.
Akpabio said the distinction between electioneering and parliamentary duties is clear enough to allow both activities to proceed side by side.
His assurance comes at a politically significant period as the 2027 contest begins to shape alliances and calculations within and outside the ruling APC.
