The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has raised fresh concerns over the growing menace of premature election campaigns by political actors, calling for urgent legislative action to safeguard the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process.
The call was made during a One-Day Stakeholders’ Roundtable on Premature Political Campaigns, organized by The Electoral Institute (TEI) at its headquarters in Abuja.
In his welcome remarks, Chairman of the TEI Board, Prof. Abdullahi Abdu Zuru, said the forum was convened to critically examine the “growing trend of what clearly appears as early political campaigns in the country, albeit being denied by the actors involved.”
Prof. Zuru noted new tactics being deployed by aspirants, including leveraging cultural festivals and religious gatherings to subtly advance their ambitions. He added that social media influencers and content creators now play a central role in projecting aspirants months before the legal campaign window, using songs, skits, and hashtags.
“This trend distorts fairness, raises the cost of political competition, distracts from governance, and ultimately erodes public confidence in the electoral system,” Zuru warned.
Speaking at the event, INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, pointed out a legal gap in the Electoral Act 2022 as the Commission’s biggest challenge.
“Section 94(1) stipulates the 150-day campaign period before elections, but there is no sanction whatsoever concerning breaches for campaigns earlier than this. Here lies the challenge for the Commission,” he stated.
Prof. Yakubu further stressed that premature campaigns undermine INEC’s ability to monitor campaign finance, as huge sums are spent by aspirants and third-party groups long before the official window opens. He revealed that the leadership of the National Assembly Committees on Electoral Matters had been invited to hear stakeholder recommendations, noting that the legislature is already reviewing aspects of the electoral framework.
Delivering the keynote address, former INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, described premature campaigns as a “serious threat to elections” that compromise the integrity of the entire electoral process.
He was particularly critical of the involvement of incumbent officials and surrogate groups, stating: “Premature election campaigns are actually being perpetrated by premature democrats. All candidates and their parties, especially incumbent office holders, should be vicariously held responsible and penalized for premature campaigns by third parties.”
The roundtable featured presentations and contributions from the Chairman of the House Committee on Electoral Matters, the Inspector General of Police, the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), and the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), among others.
Reported by: Stone Reporters News
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