The union’s National President, Professor Christopher Piwuna, gave the warning during ASUU’s 2026 Heroes’ Day celebration in Abuja, stressing that the organisation would maintain its apolitical position despite the approaching elections.
Piwuna clarified that although individual lecturers have the constitutional right to vote and participate in the democratic process, they are not permitted to present their personal political preferences as the official position of the union.
He said:
“As far as the 2027 elections are concerned, we will not ask our members to abdicate their constitutional right to vote or participate in the process. However, no member of our union has permission to use the name of ASUU to support any candidate or political party.
“We remain apolitical, and we are not supporting any candidate. Any official of our union found hobnobbing with political parties or individuals in a manner that compromises this position will face action because our leaders are supposed to lead by example.”
The ASUU president emphasised that the restriction applies to all political aspirants and parties, regardless of their affiliations or the level of government they are seeking to control.
Reiterating the union’s position, 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.”
The warning comes amid controversy over a September gathering at which more than 600 senior academics from public universities across northern Nigeria reportedly endorsed President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid ahead of the 2027 polls.
The meeting was reportedly convened by Ibrahim Masari, the Presidential Special Adviser on Political Matters.
The endorsement attracted criticism from the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which subsequently called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to disqualify the lecturers involved from serving as returning and collation officers during the 2027 general elections.
