The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has expressed its inability to penalize politicians engaging in premature campaigning for the 2027 general elections due to limitations in the Electoral Act 2022.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ roundtable in Abuja on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu highlighted that while Section 94(1) prohibits campaigning earlier than 150 days before polling, the law provides no sanctions for violations.
“Nigerians expect INEC to act against this brazen breach, but the law itself is the major challenge,” Yakubu stated.
He noted that Section 94(2) only imposes a N500,000 fine for campaigning within 24 hours of polling day, leaving INEC powerless against early rallies, billboards, and media campaigns that undermine campaign finance monitoring.
INEC National Commissioner Abdullahi Zuru called premature campaigning a significant threat to Nigeria’s democracy, citing aspirants’ use of cultural festivals, religious events, branded vehicles, billboards, and social media influencers to gain visibility.
“This distorts fairness, raises political costs, and distracts elected officials from governance,” Zuru warned, noting it erodes public trust in the electoral system.
The roundtable, attended by lawmakers, party leaders, civil society organizations, and regulators, aimed to address these issues. Yakubu urged the National Assembly, currently reviewing electoral laws, to consider actionable recommendations to strengthen the regulatory framework, particularly by clarifying definitions of premature campaigning in the digital age.
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