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| INEC warns against premature campaigning for 2027 Nigerian elections |
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has issued strong warnings to political parties and their candidates about starting campaigns too early for the 2027 general elections. The commission says these actions clearly violate Nigeria's Electoral Act .
INEC chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu expressed serious concern about this growing problem. He said politicians are finding clever ways to campaign before the official period allowed by law. These early activities often appear as cultural festivals, religious gatherings, or charity events. They also include billboards and social media posts that hint at political ambitions without directly asking for votes .
The Electoral Act of 2022 states that campaign activities must start 150 days before election day and stop 24 hours before voting begins. Since INEC has not even released the official timetable for the 2027 elections, any current campaign activity is happening too early .
Professor Yakubu spoke at a meeting with political parties and other election stakeholders in Abuja. He was represented by Professor Abdullahi Abdu Zuru, who leads the Board of Electoral Institute. They explained that early campaigning causes several problems. It makes elections less fair by giving richer candidates an advantage. It distracts from important governance work. And it reduces public trust in the electoral system .
INEC's chief press secretary, Rotimi Oyekanmi, provided more details about the rules. He noted that section 94(1) of the Electoral Act sets the campaign period. Section 95(1) adds that campaigns must follow rules set by INEC. While Nigerians can freely discuss political matters, openly asking for votes before the official period violates the law .
The commission already addressed this issue at its last quarterly meeting with political parties. INEC expects full compliance with the law from all parties .
Some critics say INEC has not done enough to stop these early campaigns. They point to posters supporting President Bola Tinubu's possible re-election that appeared in Abuja in June. Some people believe INEC lacks the will to punish major parties, especially the ruling APC .
Human rights lawyer Femi Falana also criticized early campaigning. He called it illegal and diversionary. Falana said Nigerians expect good governance now, not early political campaigns. He hopes INEC will warn politicians about following the Electoral Act .
Public reaction to INEC's warning has been mixed. Some social media users question if the commission will enforce the rules equally for all parties. One user noted that the ruling APC already appears to have started campaign activities .
INEC plans several steps to address this problem. They want to create clearer rules about what counts as early campaigning in the digital age. They promise stronger enforcement with quick detection and firm penalties for violations. The commission will also work with media companies and social media platforms to manage content that breaks election rules. And they will educate citizens, especially young people, about why early campaigning causes problems .
Meanwhile, INEC continues preparing for the 2027 elections through other means. The commission will resume the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise nationwide starting August 12, 2025. This exercise lets new voters who have turned 18 register and allows others to update their information or collect voter cards .
In Ondo State alone, INEC reported about 295,856 uncollected Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs). The commission urged media organizations, political parties, civil society groups, and traditional rulers to help improve PVC collection rates. They warned that multiple voter registrations are illegal and carry penalties of fines or jail time .
INEC officials emphasize that the CVR exercise does not mean campaign activities can begin. The official notice of election has not been issued yet by the INEC chairman .
The commission remains committed to running transparent and professional elections. They stress that following election laws helps ensure fairness, reduces political tension, and makes elections more credible .