Last week, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) finally found its voice. Through its Resident Electoral Commissioner in Kano, Prof. Risquwa Shehu, the Commission warned political parties and their supporters to halt premature campaigns. According to the Electoral Act, the campaign season has not yet commenced—and INEC made clear that the embargo remains firmly in place.
That’s all well and good. But the question remains: why did it take so long for INEC to say what everyone has been seeing and saying for months?
With over fifteen months to go before the 2027 general elections, Nigeria is already neck-deep in political posturing. Billboards are up. Slogans are circulating. Strategic defections and alignment talks are in motion. And yet, the electoral umpire only just remembered it has a duty to maintain order and legality in the political process?
Let’s be blunt: early campaigning violates the Electoral Act’s 150-day rule and erodes public trust in the credibility of our electoral institutions. It also distracts from the real business of governance. When politicians are more concerned with polls than policy, the people lose—again.
More dangerously, this premature politicking sows discord in communities. Areas seen as opposing the ruling government often find themselves sidelined in development plans and federal attention. This is not just political immaturity; it is undemocratic and patently dangerous.
Nigeria cannot afford another cycle of lawlessness disguised as ambition.
Politicians—whether in office or aspiring—must resist the temptation to heat up the polity before the starting gun has been fired. Their mandate is to govern, not to campaign indefinitely. The true dividends of democracy are not catchy slogans or early posters, but healthcare, education, security, infrastructure, and jobs. Anything less is a betrayal of public trust.
But INEC’s role in this creeping breakdown of electoral order cannot be understated. Its earlier silence was more than negligence—it was complicity by omission. A credible electoral body does not wait until the house is smouldering to announce a fire warning.
To protect Nigeria’s fragile democracy, INEC must move beyond press statements and soft warnings. It must enforce. There are clear provisions for sanctioning political parties and candidates who flout electoral timelines. Use them. Publicly. Consistently. Without fear or favour.
Being reactive is not good enough. In fact, it is a sign of institutional weakness—and worse, a sign that INEC is not as independent as its name suggests. Real oversight begins with real vigilance. By now, INEC should be anticipating infractions, not scrambling after them.
Democracy cannot thrive on seasonal outbursts. It requires structure, consistency, and above all, credibility. If Nigeria’s apex electoral body is to earn public confidence, it must show it understands not just the letter of the law, but the spirit behind it.
INEC should be at the forefront of protecting the full electoral process—not just Election Day. From pre-election monitoring to nomination phases, campaign timelines, logistics, and beyond—its presence must be felt, seen, and respected.
We call on political parties, their candidates, and their overzealous supporters: obey the law. Do not jump the gun. Do not test the resolve of a Commission already battling questions about its independence.
INEC has now spoken. Good. But the time for words is over. Now it must act.
