The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has faulted what it described as “premature” campaigns by political parties and candidates in the lead up to the 2027 elections.
INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, who spoke at a One-Day Stakeholders’ Roundtable on Premature Political Campaigns organized by The Electoral Institute (TEI) at its headquarters in Abuja, highlighted the commission’s major challenge in tackling the issue: a gap in the electoral legal framework.
Citing Section 94(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, which stipulates the 150-day campaign period, Yakubu revealed that “there is no sanction whatsoever concerning breaches for campaigns earlier than 150 days to an election. Here lies the challenge for the Commission.”
The INEC chief said the actions, “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.”
In his keynote address at the event, a former INEC chairman, Attahiru Jega described premature campaigns as a “serious threat to elections” that “undermine the integrity of the entire electoral process.”
Jega was particularly critical of the use of third-party groups and incumbent officials.
The former INEC chief said, “premature election campaigns are actually being perpetrated by premature democrats,” and proposed that “all candidates and their parties, and especially incumbent office holders and their political parties, should be vicariously held responsible and penalized for premature campaigns for them by third parties.”
The roundtable featured presentations from the Chairman of the House Committee on Electoral Matters, the Inspector General of Police, and the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), alongside contributions from the IPAC Chairman.
Meanwhile, INEC has recognised the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by a former senate president, David Mark.
Credit: channelstv.com
