The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has raised concerns over premature political campaigns, warning that the practice undermines fairness and erodes public confidence in Nigeria’s elections.
The warning came at a One-Day Stakeholders’ Roundtable on Premature Political Campaigns organized by The Electoral Institute (TEI) in Abuja on Wednesday, September 10.
TEI Board Chairman, Prof. Abdullahi Abdu Zuru, highlighted how aspirants exploit cultural festivals, religious gatherings, and social media to signal ambitions months before campaigns are legally permitted.
He said, “Aspirants use cultural festivals and religious gatherings to drop hints about their ambitions. Social media influencers and content creators have become key players and fronts, flooding platforms with songs, skits, and hashtags that project particular aspirants many months before the permission of the law.”
Prof. Zuru warned that these tactics distort fairness, raise political competition costs, distract leaders from governance, and erode public confidence.
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INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, pointed to a legal gap, noting, “There is no sanction whatsoever concerning breaches for campaigns earlier than 150 days to an election. Here lies the challenge for the Commission.”
He added that early campaigns make it difficult to track campaign finance, with “politicians, prospective candidates, and third-party agents expend[ing] large amounts of money that cannot be effectively monitored.”
The Commission has called on the National Assembly to act swiftly, inviting its electoral committees to hear stakeholder recommendations as the electoral legal framework is reviewed.
Former INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, described early campaigns as a “serious threat to elections” and warned, “Premature election campaigns are actually being perpetrated by premature democrats.
“All candidates and their parties, especially incumbents, should be vicariously held responsible and penalized for campaigns conducted on their behalf by third parties.”
The roundtable also included input from the House Committee on Electoral Matters, the Inspector General of Police, ARCON, and IPAC, stressing the urgent need for stronger regulation to preserve a level playing field in Nigeria’s elections.