By Abiola Olawale
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has sounded a warning to Nigeria’s political parties, declaring that early political campaigns by aspirants and parties pose a severe threat to the nation’s fragile democratic framework.
Speaking at a high-level stakeholders’ roundtable on the challenges of early political campaigns, held at the Electoral Institute in Abuja on Wednesday, Yakubu highlighted how these premature activities violate electoral laws and erode public trust, calling for urgent legal reforms to empower regulators.
He referenced Section 94(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, which he said prohibited the commencement of campaigns earlier than 150 days before polling day, and requires all campaign activities to end 24 hours before voting begins.
He said: “Political parties, candidates, and their supporters seem to be perpetually in election mood even when the Electoral Commission is yet to release the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for elections.
“Around the country, we have seen outdoor advertising, media campaigns, and even rallies promoting various political parties and candidates.
“These actions and activities 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 before the official commencement of campaigns.”
Speaking further, Yakubu emphasized that while INEC is tasked with upholding the rules, current legal loopholes limit the commission’s ability to impose sanctions.
“The major challenge for the commission is the law itself,” he noted.
Although Section 94(2) of the Electoral Act 2022 imposes a maximum fine of N500,000 for campaigning within 24 hours of an election, Professor Yakubu pointed out that “there is no sanction whatsoever concerning breaches for campaigns earlier than 150 days to an election.
“Here lies the challenge for the commission in dealing with the early campaign.
“The seeming inability of the commission and other regulatory agencies to deal with the menace within the ambit of the existing electoral legal framework calls for deep reflection.
“With the National Assembly currently reviewing our electoral laws,” Yakubu said, “the commission has also invited the leadership of both the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Electoral Matters.
“I am confident that they will give due consideration to actionable recommendations by experts.”
