The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it has no legal powers to penalise politicians and political parties engaging in premature campaigns ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Gatekeepers News reports that INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, stated this on Wednesday at a roundtable in Abuja on “The Challenges of Premature Political Campaigns in Nigeria.”
Yakubu explained that while Section 94(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 prohibits campaigns earlier than 150 days before polling, the law does not prescribe penalties for violations.
“Section 94(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 prohibits the commencement of campaign earlier than 150 days (i.e. five months) before polling day and must end 24 hours prior to that day. The idea is to prioritise governance over electioneering from one electoral cycle to another,” he said.
The INEC chairman expressed concern that despite this legal provision, political actors remain “perpetually in election mood,” mounting billboards, sponsoring adverts, and holding rallies long before the Commission publishes its timetable.
“These actions and activities undermine the Commission’s ability to track campaign finance limits as politicians, prospective candidates and third-party agents expend large amounts of money that cannot be effectively monitored before the official commencement of campaigns,” he warned.
Yakubu admitted that Nigerians expect INEC to act as the regulator of political parties but stressed that its hands are tied by the law.
“Section 94(2) of the Electoral Act 2022 imposes sanctions, albeit mild (a maximum amount of N500,000 on conviction), on any political party or a person acting on its behalf who engages in campaigns 24 hours before polling day. However, there is no sanction whatsoever concerning breaches for campaigns earlier than 150 days to an election. Here lies the challenge for the Commission,” he added.
The INEC boss argued that the absence of sanctions has emboldened politicians and their supporters to disregard the law, undermining governance and frustrating the Commission’s ability to enforce campaign finance regulations.
Yakubu emphasised the need to criminalise premature campaigns, noting that the National Assembly is currently reviewing the electoral laws. He expressed confidence that lawmakers will consider expert recommendations from stakeholders including political parties, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), and the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON).
“I am glad that the immediate past Chairman of INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega, is here to share his experience on the matter in a keynote address. Similarly, as the National Assembly is currently reviewing our electoral laws, the Commission has also invited the leadership of both the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Electoral Matters,” Yakubu said.
