Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has issued a stern warning to politicians and political parties, reminding them that the use of abusive, intemperate, or inflammatory campaign language attracts heavy financial penalties and potential imprisonment under the Electoral Act 2026.
Speaking on behalf of the commission, Adedayo Oketola, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, emphasized that political rhetoric crosses into illegal intimidation when it moves past robust debate and enters the realm of coercion, hate speech, or threats of violence.
Citing Section 96 of the electoral legislation, INEC noted that campaigns must not be tainted with base or slanderous language designed to provoke sectional hostility or injure ethnic, tribal, and religious feelings.
To ensure deterrence, the electoral commission highlighted that Section 96(7) of the Electoral Act 2026 prescribes severe statutory penalties for offenders.
Individual candidates convicted of employing inflammatory or threatening language face a maximum fine of ₦5,000,000 or a 12-month prison term, while non-compliant political parties face a stiffer fine of ₦10,000,000 for a first offense and ₦2,000,000 for subsequent violations.
While clarifying that INEC operates primarily as an election management body rather than a security agency, Oketola stressed that the commission is fully empowered to monitor campaigns, issue formal queries, and enforce compliance through the Code of Conduct for Political Parties.
The electoral body’s warning comes in the wake of a troubling wave of intimidation and inflammatory remarks by high-ranking political office holders across various states.
Recent incidents have drawn widespread condemnation from civil society organizations and rights groups, including controversial remarks by federal and state actors such as Osun East Senator, Francis Fadahunsi, Kuje, Area Council Chairman, Samuel Danjuma Shekwolo, Borno Youth and Sports Commissioner, Sainna Buba, and Yobe APC Chairman, Mohammed Gadaka.
These flashpoints—alongside parallel warnings recorded in Kebbi and Ebonyi states—have heightened safety concerns, with independent monitoring groups documenting dozens of pre-election violent incidents in recent electoral cycles.
Addressing the multi-faceted nature of election security, INEC reiterated that preserving electoral integrity is a collective responsibility that extends far beyond the commission.
Oketola noted that the Nigeria Police Force and other security institutions hold a statutory mandate to maintain law and order and suppress potential breakdowns during rallies under Section 95 of the Electoral Act.
Furthermore, the commission called on the media to actively fulfill its watchdog role by exposing purveyors of hate speech, while urging traditional and religious leaders to leverage their moral authority to steer politicians away from violence.
Re-emphasizing the core ethos expected of political actors as the 2027 polls draw closer, INEC maintained that democratic spaces must be protected from descent into lawlessness.
The commission concluded that political platforms exist for the robust contest of ideas and policy alternatives rather than serving as operational theatres for war, urging all stakeholders to prioritize peaceful engagement and strict adherence to the law.
