Politics

INEC chairman – Early political campaigns threaten democracy

Published

5 months ago

September 10, 2025

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has raised concerns over the growing trend of premature political campaigns across the country, describing it as a direct violation of Nigeria’s electoral laws and a threat to democratic governance.

Speaking at a one-day roundtable on the challenges of early political campaigns, held at the Electoral Institute in Abuja on Wednesday, Yakubu highlighted what he described as a “disturbing trend” of political campaigning ahead of scheduled timelines, especially in relation to upcoming off-cycle governorship elections, the Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections, and the 2027 general election.

He referenced Section 94(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, which clearly prohibits the commencement of campaigns earlier than 150 days before polling day, and requires all campaign activities to end 24 hours before voting begins.

However, he lamented that political actors often disregard this provision. “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,” the INEC Chairman noted.

Yakubu warned that these premature activities severely compromise the commission’s ability to enforce campaign finance limits.

“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,” he said.

He noted that while Nigerians expect INEC, as the regulator of political parties, to act, the Commission’s powers are constrained by gaps in the legal framework. “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.”

He acknowledged that early campaigning is not a new issue, but said the failure of regulatory bodies to address it within existing legal constraints necessitated deeper reflection.

“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,” Yakubu said.

“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.”

He also acknowledged the participation of regulatory agencies, including the National Broadcasting Commission, the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria, and the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria, expressing optimism that the discussions would yield practical solutions.

The INEC chairman’s remarks came amid rising political activity nationwide, despite the 2027 general election still being more than a year away. Across the country, politicians have been hosting large gatherings, commissioning constituency projects, and holding “empowerment” events—many of which observers say are disguised campaign efforts.

Nigeria operates on a four-year electoral cycle, during which elected officials serve for a renewable term of four years. As general elections are constitutionally mandated to be held every four years, political activities tend to intensify well in advance. In recent election cycles, the build-up has started earlier with each cycle, often turning governance into secondary business as politicians begin to focus more on elections than service delivery.

Historically, early campaigns have also led to increased political tension and division. During the build-up to the 2023 general elections, similar concerns were raised as political rhetoric dominated the national conversation months before INEC officially flagged off campaign activities. Many of those early activities went unchecked due to a lack of punitive measures within the legal framework.

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Post Views: 1,194

Politics

Tinubu To Sign Amended Electoral Act In February — Akpabio

Published

11 hours ago

February 11, 2026

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, on Tuesday, disclosed that President Bola Tinubu is expected to sign the amended Electoral Act into law by February, despite intensifying public outcry and nationwide protests over the controversial removal of the phrase “real-time” from clauses on electronic transmission of election results.

It was reports that Akpabio made the disclosure during Tuesday’s Senate plenary, while announcing an expansion of the Senate’s conference committee from nine to 12 members to align with the House of Representatives’ own delegation.

“We have raised our numbers from nine to twelve to match the figures from our colleagues in the House of Reps. We expect everything to be done in the next few days or in a week. The President is expected to sign this into law in February,” Akpabio stated.

The Senate President’s remarks come as protests under the banner of #OccupyNASS continued at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, drawing civil society groups, opposition figures and human rights activists demanding electoral transparency.

Among those at the protest was Omoyele Sowore, former presidential candidate and leader of the African Action Congress (AAC), who accused the political elite of pushing regressive laws that undermine electoral credibility.

“This is an exposition that already existed. It is not new. That is why it is a surprise to everyone that this provision was yanked away from the Electoral Act that Akpabio and his friends are trying to put in place,” Sowore said.

He warned that Nigeria’s political class fears transparent processes that would expose their unpopularity.

“These people cannot win in free and fair elections. But the people have a duty to demand processes that guarantee free, legal and transparent elections,” he added.

‘I Prefer Electronic Voting, Not Just Transmission’ — Sowore

While public concern has centred on the removal of “real-time” electronic transmission, Sowore said the focus should be expanded to electronic voting, insisting that election integrity begins at the point of voting, not just result collation.

He said, “My preference is not even electronic transmission of results, because what gets transmitted at the end of the day is what has already been manipulated. I am more interested in electronic voting.

“Whatever people think in their minds that can protect the integrity of their votes, we must defend and support it.”

Sowore also criticised the heavy security deployment at the protest venue, describing it as intimidation against citizens exercising constitutional rights.

He further stated, “It is their job to protect the country, not to attack peaceful protesters. I have warned them that if they try that, they are starting something they cannot predict how it will end.”

He noted the growing frustration among Nigerians, urging security forces to act professionally and avoid escalating tensions.

“Nigerians are very angry at this time, but security agents have a duty to maintain law and order, nothing more, nothing less,” he said.

Reaffirming his revolutionary stance, Sowore rejected gradual reforms, arguing that Nigeria’s problems demand sweeping political change.

Sowore added, “I’m not for baby steps. I’m a revolutionary. Nothing other than revolution will solve this problem. That has always been my position.”

He described the protest at the National Assembly as a reflection of rising political consciousness among Nigerians.

He stated, “When we arrived here, you could tell this place was filled with silent revolutionaries. The giants in them began to awaken when they saw that we were together.”

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Post Views: 34

Politics

Electronic transmission: Give them everything, they will still complain – Senate blasts protesters

Published

11 hours ago

February 11, 2026

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

Senate spokesman, Yemi Adaramodu has lashed out at Nigerians protesting real-time electronic transmission of election results.

Speaking during an interview on ‘Politics Today’, a programme on Channels Television on Tuesday, Adaramodu said the protesters have always been there even for good things.

It was reports that Nigerians, on Monday converged in Abuja for the “Occupy National Assembly” protest against the rejection of e-transmission of election results by the Senate.

Prominent politicians such as the former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, as well as former Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, among others participated in the protest.

Reacting, the Senate spokesman said, “Those people you saw on the street are always there, even for good things.

“If you give them a road, they will say it is not wide enough. If you give them electricity, they will say the light is not bright enough.

“It’s the same people on the street, and they will continue to be there.”

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Politics

Electronic transmission needs legal backing – Analyst, Arogundade

Published

11 hours ago

February 11, 2026

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

Executive Director of the International Press Centre, Lanre Arogundade, has called for legal backing to the real-time electronic transmission of election results.

Arogundade made this call on Tuesday when he appeared as a guest in an interview on Arise Television.

He said that Nigeria has advanced technologically that there can be improvements in BVAS.

“The transmission of results we are proposing needs a legal backing because if there is none, if INEC decides not to electronically trasmit, we will have problems.

“It is very significant in the sense that if the idea of real-time electronic transmission is accepted, it gives us two months of verification.

“The one is the results that has been transmitted electronically, and then the other one at the coalition.

“One is the results that has been transmitted electronically, and then the other one at the coalition.

“So I guess we just need a whole lot of understanding here because when politicians come in and they can easily cause a lot of distraction and diversion that’s why I said this is a time for us to properly enlighten ourselves by looking at what we are proposing and what has happened before,” he said.

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Post Views: 55