The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has cautioned that the rising trend of premature political campaigns poses a serious threat to Nigeria’s democratic process.
Speaking at a one-day roundtable on early political campaigns held at the Electoral Institute in Abuja on Wednesday, Yakubu described the development as both unlawful and damaging to electoral integrity.
He cited Section 94(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, which prohibits campaigns from starting earlier than 150 days before an election and requires all activities to stop 24 hours before voting. Despite this, he lamented that politicians continue to flout the law with outdoor adverts, media promotions, and rallies even before INEC releases its election timetable.
“Political parties, candidates and their supporters appear to be in constant campaign mode,” Yakubu said, adding that such premature activities undermine the Commission’s ability to monitor campaign spending.
He explained that while the law imposes a fine of up to ₦500,000 for campaigns within 24 hours of an election, there are currently no penalties for breaches occurring before the 150-day window. This legal loophole, he stressed, makes enforcement difficult.
Yakubu further noted that early campaigns not only strain INEC’s regulatory work but also shift politicians’ focus away from governance. He pointed to the pattern of massive rallies, constituency project launches, and “empowerment” programmes disguised as campaigns, which are already taking place across the country ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He urged the National Assembly, which is currently reviewing the Electoral Act, to address these gaps. According to him, INEC has engaged the leadership of the Senate and House Committees on Electoral Matters to consider expert recommendations.
Regulatory agencies including the National Broadcasting Commission, the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria, and the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria also participated in the roundtable. Yakubu expressed hope that their collaboration would help produce practical measures to curb the menace.
Observers say the trend of early campaigning, seen as far back as the build-up to the 2023 general elections, continues to deepen political tension and distract from service delivery, leaving governance secondary to electioneering.
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