2027: INEC warns of ₦10m fine, 12-month jail term for abusive campaign rhetoric

Urges Media to call out erring politicians By Omeiza Ajayi ABUJA: Ahead of the 2027 general election, the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC has warned that politicians and political parties who employ abusive, intemperate or inflammatory languages in their campaigns risk heavy financial penalties and possible imprisonment under the Electoral Act 2026, as the country grapples with a fresh wave of threats by political office holders against dissenting voters.

The INEC spokesman’s warning comes against the backdrop of a fresh wave of threats by highly placed political office holders across the country in recent weeks, with a section of Nigeria’s political elite openly threatening voters, opponents and dissenting residents with violence, eviction and physical harm ahead of the 2027 polls, triggering condemnation from civil society groups, rights organisations and opposition politicians.

On what INEC can actually do about the trend, Oketola clarified that the Commission is an election management body and not a security agency, but explained that Section 95 of the Electoral Act 2026 explicitly prescribes the security architecture for political rallies in relation to the operational roles of the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps NSCDC, and other security institutions.