The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned politicians and political parties against using abusive, inflammatory or threatening language during campaigns ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The commission said such conduct could amount to electoral intimidation when campaign rhetoric moves beyond legitimate political criticism and begins to involve threats, coercion, hate speech or language capable of provoking violence.
INEC Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the Chairman, Adedayo Oketola, explained that Section 96 of the Electoral Act 2026 prohibits campaign language that could offend religious, ethnic, tribal or sectional sentiments or provoke violent reactions.
He said threats directed at voters, political opponents or electoral officials, including attempts to intimidate people into supporting or rejecting a particular candidate, could attract legal consequences.
Under the law, a candidate found guilty of the relevant offences may face a fine of up to ₦5 million or imprisonment for a maximum of 12 months.
Political parties that violate the provisions could be fined ₦10 million for a first offence and ₦2 million for subsequent offences.
Oketola noted that although INEC is primarily responsible for managing elections rather than providing security, the commission has the authority to monitor political campaigns and enforce compliance with the Code of Conduct for Political Parties.
He also said security agencies have important responsibilities in maintaining peace and preventing violence during political campaigns and rallies.
INEC urged political parties and their candidates to conduct their campaigns responsibly and focus on policies and issues rather than threats or inflammatory rhetoric.
The commission also called on the media, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to help identify and discourage political statements capable of escalating tensions as the country moves towards the 2027 elections.
INEC stressed that protecting the credibility and peaceful conduct of the electoral process requires cooperation from political actors, security agencies, the media and the wider public.
