The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has warned that politicians and parties who use abusive or threatening language in campaigns ahead of the 2027 elections risk heavy fines and jail time under the Electoral Act 2026.

Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mr. Adedayo Oketola, disclosed this in an interview with our correspondent on Sunday.

He said campaign speech becomes punishable intimidation when it incites ethnic, religious or regional hostility, or threatens harm to voters and officials.

“Under the Nigerian legal framework, rhetoric becomes punishable intimidation when it incites ethnic, religious, or regional hostility through abusive, base, or slanderous language explicitly designed to provoke violent emotions or target specific groups,” Oketola said, citing Section 96 of the Electoral Act 2026.

He quoted the law: “A political campaign or slogan shall not be tainted with abusive language directly or indirectly likely to injure religious, ethnic, tribal or sectional feelings.”

The Act also bars “abusive, intemperate, slanderous or base language, insinuations, innuendoes designed or likely to provoke violent reaction.”

Oketola explained that INEC is not a security agency but can monitor campaigns and enforce the Code of Conduct for Political Parties. The Commission can issue queries and apply sanctions within its limits, while security will be handled by the Nigeria Police Force and NSCDC under Section 95.

On penalties, he said Section 96(7) prescribes: 

“Any candidate who commits these offences is liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of ₦5,000,000 or imprisonment for a term of 12 months.”

“A non-compliant political party is liable to a fine of ₦10,000,000 in the first instance, and ₦2,000,000 for each subsequent offence.”

The warning comes amid a wave of threats by political office holders. Recent cases cited include:

– Osun: Senator Francis Fadahunsi questioned by police over a viral video allegedly telling APC supporters to “kill” Accord party members in Ilesa.

– FCT: Kuje Council Chairman Samuel Shekwolo warned non-APC supporters to relocate, condemned by Amnesty International.

– Borno: Commissioner Sainna Buba allegedly threatened to “flog” those who don’t support APC.

– Yobe: APC Chairman Mohammed Gadaka urged married women to leave husbands who won’t vote APC, later withdrew it.

– Kebbi & Ebonyi: LGA Chairman and Governor Francis Nwifuru also made controversial remarks linking support to political survival.

Oketola said electoral integrity is a collective duty of security agencies, media, and traditional/religious leaders.

“Political campaigns should be platforms of competing ideas, not theatres of war,” he said.

Source: Vanguard News.