2027: INEC Threatens Fines, Jail Term Over Abusive Campaigns

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has threatened candidates with a N5 million fine or 12-month jail term, and political parties with a N10 million fine, over abusive, inflammatory, threatening or slanderous campaign language ahead of the 2027 general elections.

INEC’s Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the Chairman, Adedayo Oketola, made this known in a telephone interview, citing Section 96 of the Electoral Act 2026, which prohibits campaign statements capable of inflaming ethnic, religious, tribal or sectional sentiments or provoking violent reactions.

Oketola said campaign rhetoric might cross the line into electoral intimidation when demonstrated beyond legitimate political debate, involving threats, coercion, hate speech or statements capable of provoking violence.

He said threats of physical harm, economic retaliation or social exclusion intended to influence voters could also constitute electoral intimidation.

According to him, Section 96(7) provides that a candidate convicted of such an offence could face a maximum fine of N5 million or 12 months’ imprisonment, while a political party could be fined N10 million for a first offence and N2 million for each subsequent offence.

Oketola stressed that INEC possessed the statutory responsibility to monitor political campaigns and enforce compliance with the Code of Conduct for Political Parties.

He also called on security agencies, the media, traditional rulers and religious leaders to help discourage provocative political statements and prevent election-related violence.

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