The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has declared that it will not support any political party or candidate in Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, warning its officials against using the union’s name or platform to promote partisan interests.
ASUU President, Professor Christopher Piwuna, said the union would remain politically neutral before, during and after the elections.
He gave the warning on Thursday, November 12, 2026, during the union’s 2026 Heroes’ Day celebration in Abuja.
Piwuna stressed that although individual members have the constitutional right to vote, campaign and participate in the electoral process, nobody is authorised to portray personal political preferences as the official position of ASUU.
No Official Endorsement for Any Candidate
The ASUU president made it clear that the union would not identify with any individual seeking elective office, irrespective of the person’s political affiliation or the level of government involved.
According to Piwuna, any union official found associating with political parties or candidates in a manner that compromises ASUU’s neutrality would face disciplinary action.
He declared:
“ASUU is not supporting any political party. I repeat, ASUU is not supporting any individual standing for election anywhere, today, tomorrow or the day after. We remain apolitical.”
Members Still Free to Exercise Their Voting Rights
The union clarified that its decision to remain apolitical does not prevent university lecturers from participating in Nigeria’s democratic process.
Individual members remain free to:
- Register and vote in the 2027 elections.
- Support candidates of their personal choice.
- Participate in political campaigns in their individual capacities.
- Exercise their constitutional rights without claiming to represent ASUU.
However, they must not use the union’s name, official positions or platform to suggest that ASUU has endorsed a particular candidate or political party.
Why ASUU Is Taking This Position
The declaration comes amid increasing political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.
It also follows reports in September 2026 that more than 600 senior academics from public universities in northern Nigeria had endorsed President Bola Tinubu’s second-term ambition.
That development generated controversy, particularly over the participation of university lecturers in partisan political activities and concerns about their possible involvement in election administration.
ASUU’s latest declaration reinforces the distinction between the political rights of individual academics and the institutional position of their professional union.
What Nigerians Should Know
The major takeaway is that ASUU is not endorsing President Bola Tinubu, Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi or any other presidential aspirant for 2027.
Its members can make their individual political choices, but the union itself will not campaign for or endorse any candidate.
