INEC warns politicians over early campaigns disguised as philanthropy, saying the trend violates electoral laws and threatens democratic fairness
INEC has raised serious concerns over the increasing trend of early political campaigns in Nigeria, describing the practice as a direct violation of electoral laws and a threat to the integrity of the democratic process.
Also read: Yakubu Warns Early Campaigns Threaten Nigeria’s Democracy
Speaking in Abuja on Wednesday, Prof. Abdullahi Zuru, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Board of The Electoral Institute (TEI), made the remarks during a stakeholders roundtable on “The Challenges of Premature Political Campaigns.”
Prof. Zuru lamented that aspirants and political parties now hide behind acts of “appreciation” and “philanthropy” to promote their ambitions through billboards, social media, religious events, cultural festivals, and branded materials—long before the legal campaign window opens.
“When aspirants or parties compete to dominate visibility long before the official campaign period, it distorts fairness and raises the cost of political competition,” Zuru said.
He warned that this growing habit undermines governance by distracting elected officials and weakening public trust in the electoral process.
He stressed the urgent need to refine Nigeria’s electoral regulatory framework to meet the realities of a digital age, where influence is increasingly exercised through social media, paid influencers, and indirect endorsements.
According to Zuru, premature campaigning not only violates the law but also fuels cynicism about the rule of law and diminishes public faith in elections.
In a related development, INEC officially recognised the new leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) after months of internal disputes.
The commission updated the party’s executive listing on its website on Wednesday, confirming Senator David Mark as National Chairman and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, former governor of Osun State, as National Secretary.
This recognition marks the formal resolution of the party’s leadership crisis and signals INEC’s continued role in overseeing party compliance and internal structure.
Also read: Showunmi Questions Dominance of Old Politicians in Nigeria’s Democracy
As 2027 approaches, INEC reiterated its commitment to a level playing field for all participants and called on stakeholders to respect the timeline for campaigns as provided by the Electoral Act.
