INEC raises alarm over premature campaigns, calls for legal review

Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has expressed concern over the rising trend of premature political campaigns across the country, warning that it undermines Nigeria’s electoral process.

Speaking at a one-day roundtable on early campaigns held at the Electoral Institute, Abuja, on Wednesday, Yakubu noted that political parties and their supporters were increasingly engaging in electioneering far ahead of the legally permitted period.

According to Section 94(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, campaigns are only allowed to commence 150 days before an election and must end 24 hours prior to polling.

Yakubu, however, lamented that parties and candidates had already flooded the public space with adverts, rallies, and media promotions ahead of the off-cycle Governorship elections, the FCT Area Council elections, and the 2027 General polls. He warned that such actions not only breach the law but also hinder INEC’s ability to effectively monitor campaign finance.

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The INEC chairman further highlighted gaps in the law, pointing out that while the Act prescribes mild sanctions for campaigns held within 24 hours of polling, it provides no penalties for those conducted earlier than the 150-day threshold.

He said this legal vacuum poses a major challenge for enforcement. The roundtable, which brought together legislators, political party leaders, civil society organisations, regulators, and experts, was convened to chart solutions.

“Protecting our electoral process and consolidating democracy is a multi-stakeholder task,” Yakubu stressed, expressing confidence that the deliberations and recommendations would guide

Also speaking, Abdullahi Abdul Zuru, Chair, Board of the Electoral Institute BEI, in his welcome remarks, noted that Nigeria’s democracy is still in transition, and like every evolving system, faces serious challenges.

“One of the most worrying is the increasing resort to early campaigns by political actors and their surrogates in many forms. We have seen aspirants use cultural festivals and religious gatherings to drop hints about their ambitions, often disguised as appreciation or philanthropy”, he said.

He said the implications of this trend are far-reaching. When aspirants or parties compete to dominate visibility long before the official campaign period, it distorts fairness and raises the cost of political competition.

The Board Chair noted that early campaigns distract from governance, as elected officials become more concerned with sustaining political relevance than delivering public service. Over time, it erodes public confidence in our electoral system and fuels cynicism about whether the law can truly be enforced.

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“We must be frank in acknowledging the scale of the challenge and bold in designing solutions. We must refine the regulatory framework so that what constitutes premature or early campaigning is more clearly defined in today’s digital age.

“Democracy thrives on fairness, order, and respect for the rules, regulations and guidelines governing the electoral process. Campaigns conducted within the timeframe stipulated by law ensure a more level playing field, reduce political tension, and enhance the credibility of elections”, he said.

More recently, social media influencers and content creators have become key players and fronts, flooding platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and X with songs, skits, and hashtags that project particular aspirants many months before the permission of the law.

He noted that respecting the law is not a limitation on political participation but an affirmation that our democracy is rooted in integrity, not expediency.