The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has called for robust multi-stakeholder collaboration to tackle the rising incidence of premature election campaigns by political actors, warning that the trend undermines the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process and distorts a level playing field.
The call was made on Wednesday at a one-day Stakeholders’ Roundtable on Premature Political Campaigns organised by The Electoral Institute (TEI) at its headquarters in Abuja.
In his welcome address, the Chairman of the TEI Board, Prof. Abdullahi Abdu Zuru, said the roundtable was convened to examine the “growing trend of what clearly appears as early political campaigns in the country, albeit being denied by the actors involved.”
He highlighted new tactics employed by aspirants, noting that “cultural festivals and religious gatherings” are now used to drop hints about political ambitions, while “social media influencers and content creators” flood platforms with songs, skits and hashtags projecting aspirants many months before campaigns are legally permitted.
Prof. Zuru warned that such practices distort fairness, raise the cost of political competition, distract from governance and erode public confidence in the electoral system.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, identified gaps in the electoral legal framework as a major challenge in curbing premature campaigns. Citing Section 94(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, which stipulates a 150-day campaign period, he noted that there are no sanctions for breaches occurring before that window.
“These early actions undermine the Commission’s ability to track campaign finance limits as politicians, prospective candidates and third-party agents expend large amounts of money that cannot be effectively monitored,” Prof. Yakubu said.
He disclosed that the Commission had invited the leadership of the National Assembly Committees on Electoral Matters to hear stakeholders’ recommendations firsthand, noting that the Assembly is currently reviewing the electoral legal framework.
