The commission warned that politicians found guilty of violating campaign rules could face substantial fines or imprisonment under provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.
INEC Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the Chairman, Adedayo Oketola, disclosed this during an interview on Sunday.
Oketola explained that political speech crosses into electoral intimidation when it involves threats, coercion, hate speech or statements capable of provoking violence against opponents, voters or other members of the public.
He specifically referred to Section 96 of the Electoral Act 2026, which prohibits campaign statements capable of inflaming religious, ethnic, tribal or sectional sentiments or triggering violent reactions.
According to him, threats involving physical attacks, economic punishment or social exclusion aimed at forcing voters to support or abandon a particular political position also constitute intimidation.
Oketola said INEC had the statutory responsibility to monitor political campaigns and ensure compliance with the Code of Conduct for Political Parties, despite not being a security agency.
“Beyond inter-agency security coordination, INEC is statutorily empowered to monitor political campaigns and enforce compliance with the Code of Conduct for Political Parties,” he said.
He added that the commission could query political parties and impose sanctions within the limits of its administrative powers.
Oketola further stated that Section 96(7) provides for a maximum fine of ₦5 million or 12 months’ imprisonment for candidates convicted of the offences.
Political parties found liable, he said, could be fined ₦10 million for a first offence and ₦2 million for subsequent violations.
The INEC official also called on security agencies, journalists, traditional institutions and religious leaders to play active roles in discouraging provocative political statements that could threaten public peace.
“The Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies have a clear duty to prevent the breakdown of law and order during political campaigns,” he said.
He added: “Political campaigns should be platforms of competing ideas, not theatres of war.”
The warning comes against the backdrop of recent incidents involving alleged threats by political figures ahead of the 2027 elections.
In Kebbi State, the Chairman of Gwandu Local Government Area, Alhaji Atiku Ahmad Mandiya, recently came under scrutiny after a video of him addressing a political gathering went viral.
In the footage, Mandiya urged supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to have at least one person present at every polling unit to safeguard the party’s interests.
He also appeared to call for confrontation against individuals who criticised Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, popularly known as “Kaura”, while saying he would secure the release of anyone arrested over such an
incident.
“We should get at least one person to stand at each polling unit that will protect our interests,” Mandiya said.
“Anybody who comes to say anything against Kaura should be dealt with. I will bail the person [who dealt with the governor’s political opponent] out, if arrested.”
The incident has added to concerns over the tone of political engagements ahead of the 2027 elections, with similar allegations of threats and incitement reported in other parts of the country.
In Osun State, an APC chieftain and senator representing Osun East Senatorial District, Francis Fadahunsi, was also reportedly captured in a video allegedly threatening members of the
Accord Party ahead of the state’s governorship election.
Fadahunsi was reported to have addressed supporters in Ilesa, where he allegedly urged them to attack Accord Party members found in the area before the election.
“If we hear of Accord Party again in Ilesa here for the election coming up on Saturday, you can record me and say it anywhere,” he said.
“So we are here now to tell you that till the day of the election, if we see any Accord Party members, we’ll kill them.
“We cannot be watching.”
He reportedly extended the warning to traditional rulers accused of backing the opposition, saying chiefs who allowed themselves to be used against the ruling party would face consequences.
The developments have renewed calls for political actors to moderate their language and ensure that campaigns remain focused on policies and ideas rather than threats or violence.
