2027: INEC THREATENS FINES, JAIL FOR ABUSIVE CAMPAIGN RHETORIC

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By: Fasasi Hammad

Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission has warned politicians and political parties against the use of abusive, intemperate or inflammatory language during campaigns.

The commission said offenders could face heavy financial penalties and imprisonment under the Electoral Act 2026, amid growing concerns over threats allegedly issued by some political office holders against voters and opponents.

INEC Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the Chairman, Adedayo Oketola, disclosed this in a telephone interview with journalists on Sunday.

Oketola explained that campaign rhetoric crosses the legal line when it moves beyond robust political debate or criticism of policies and becomes coercive, hateful or threatening.

He said Section 96 of the Electoral Act 2026 prohibits campaign language capable of inciting ethnic, religious, tribal or sectional hostility.

According to him, the law also prohibits abusive, intemperate, slanderous or provocative language, including statements likely to trigger violent reactions or emotions.

Oketola said campaign rhetoric could amount to intimidation when politicians threaten voters, candidates or electoral officials with physical harm, economic retaliation or social exclusion in an attempt to influence or suppress political support.

He added that campaigns must not deliberately create an atmosphere of fear capable of discouraging voter participation or disenfranchising particular groups.

On enforcement, Oketola noted that INEC is an election management body and not a security agency. However, he said Section 95 of the Electoral Act provides for the involvement of the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and other security agencies in maintaining order during political rallies.

He said INEC was also empowered to monitor political campaigns and enforce compliance with the Code of Conduct for Political Parties.

“Beyond inter-agency security coordination, INEC is statutorily empowered to monitor political campaigns and enforce compliance with the Code of Conduct for Political Parties. The Commission can issue formal queries and sanction non-compliant parties within its administrative limits,” he said.

Oketola disclosed that Section 96(7) of the Electoral Act provides for penalties against individuals and political parties found guilty of violating the provisions.

He said a candidate convicted of the offences could face a fine of up to ₦5 million or imprisonment for up to 12 months.

Political parties, he added, could be fined ₦10 million for a first offence and ₦2 million for each subsequent violation.

The INEC spokesman stressed that maintaining electoral integrity was a collective responsibility involving political actors, security agencies, the media, traditional institutions and religious leaders.

He urged security agencies to prevent the breakdown of law and order during campaigns, while calling on the media to expose inflammatory statements and on traditional and religious leaders to use their influence to discourage political violence.

The warning comes amid a series of controversial remarks and alleged threats by political actors across the country ahead of the 2027 elections.

In Osun State, Senator Francis Fadahunsi was invited by the police over a viral video in which he allegedly called on supporters to attack members of another political party. Governor Ademola Adeleke subsequently condemned the remarks and described them as a national security threat.

In the Federal Capital Territory, the Chairman of Kuje Area Council, Samuel Danjuma Shekwolo, also attracted criticism after reportedly warning residents who did not support the All Progressives Congress to relocate ahead of the 2027 elections.

Similar controversies have been reported in Borno, Yobe, Kebbi and Ebonyi states, involving political figures accused of making statements perceived as threatening or coercive.

Against this backdrop, INEC reiterated that political campaigns should focus on competing ideas and policies rather than intimidation or violence.

“Political campaigns should be platforms of competing ideas, not theatres of war,” Oketola said.