No Law To Punish Politicians Over Early Campaigns — INEC – Independent Newspaper Nigeria

Yakubu also lamented that the culture of unending campaigns distracts politicians from gover­nance and makes it harder for INEC to effectively regulate polit­ical financing.

He said these in Abuja at a one-day roundtable with the theme, ‘The Challenges of Premature/ Early Political Campaigns in Ni­geria’, organised by INEC’s Elec­toral Institute.

He warmed that without ur­gent and deliberate reforms, the integrity of the 2027 general elec­tions could be compromised.

Citing Section 94(1) of the Electoral Act, Yakubu reminded stakeholders that campaigns are only allowed 150 days before elec­tion day and must cease 24 hours prior to voting. Yet, according to him, many political actors remain in a constant campaign mode even before INEC has re­leased the official timetable.

He noted that while the law prescribes sanctions for cam­paigns conducted within 24 hours of polling, it is silent on activities carried out before the 150-day threshold, leaving a loophole that undermines enforcement.

“The inability of the commis­sion and other regulatory agen­cies to tackle this problem within the current framework is deeply troubling,” he remarked.

Yakubu expressed confidence that the forum, which brought to­gether representatives of the Na­tional Assembly, political parties, civil society groups, media regu­lators, and legal experts, would generate concrete proposals to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral laws and close existing gaps.

“Safeguarding our elections and deepening democracy is a responsibility we must all share. I believe today’s discussions will yield practical strategies to con­front this growing challenge,” he added.

Former Chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, also raised strong concerns over the rising wave of premature political campaigns across the country, cautioning that the practice threatens electoral credibility and democratic stability.

Delivering the keynote ad­dress at the occasion, Prof. Jega condemned early campaigns as an “unacceptable anomaly” that weakens democratic norms and diminishes citizens’ trust in the electoral system.

He observed that, despite the Electoral Act 2022 expressly lim­iting campaigns to 150 days before elections, politicians, especially those in power, are already en­gaging in rallies, advertisements, billboards, and project launches nearly two years before the polls.

“Premature electioneering tilts the field in favour of in­cumbents, fuels impunity, and heightens unnecessary political tension. If left unchecked, it could undermine the entire democratic process,” Jega cautioned.

He accused political actors of exploiting loopholes in the law by sponsoring activities through so-called “third-party” groups, many of which operate outside campaign finance regulations.

“Most of these third-party campaigns are illegal. When incumbents or their allies en­gage in them with impunity, it triggers lawlessness and erodes public confidence in the system,” he said.

Jega urged INEC, security agencies, and anti-corruption bodies to step up enforcement, noting that countries such as Australia, Mexico, and India have successfully curbed the trend with firm sanctions.

He recommended that Nige­rian law should clearly define premature campaigning and prescribe heavy penalties.

He also proposed holding in­cumbents and political parties accountable for the activities of support groups, stronger mon­itoring of campaign funds by the EFCC and ICPC, improved collaboration between INEC and State Independent Electoral Com­missions (SIECs) in sanctioning offenders, and the swift creation of an Electoral Offences Commis­sion and Tribunal.

“In Nigeria, much more needs to be done to clean up the electoral space. Defining prema­ture campaigns in law, attaching stiff penalties, and ensuring strict implementation are essential to safeguarding the credibility of the 2027 polls,” Jega said.

In his contribution, Chairman of the INEC Electoral Institute Board, Prof. Abdullahi Abdu Zuru, described the trend as a growing abuse of cultural festi­vals, religious events, philanthro­py, and social media platforms to disguise early campaigning.

“This distortion raises the cost of political competition, dis­tracts leaders from governance, and erodes public trust,” he cau­tioned.

Zuru warned that the conse­quences of premature campaigns are far-reaching, distorting fair­ness in the electoral process, in­flating the cost of political partic­ipation, diverting elected officials from governance, and weakening citizens’ faith in the system.

He specifically cited the surge of billboards, branded vehicles, skits, songs, and hashtags on social media as evidence of aspi­rants exploiting digital platforms to gain early advantage.

The roundtable, attended by political party leaders, the Nigeri­an Bar Association (NBA), NBC, ARCON, civil society, and media stakeholders, resolved that san­itising Nigeria’s electoral space requires urgent amendments to the law, stronger enforcement, and sustained civic education.

INECRecognises David Mark-Led ADC Leadership

Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially recognised the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) under former Senate President David Mark.

Daily Independent gathered that the decision effectively re­solves the lingering leadership tussle that had thrown the oppo­sition party into months of uncer­tainty and internal strife.

A statement on INEC’s official website confirmed that the David Mark-led executive remains the authentic leadership structure of the ADC.

According to the list released on Wednesday, Senator David Mark is recognised as National Chairman, with former Osun State governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, serving as National Secretary, and Dr. Ibrahim Ah­mad Mani as National Treasur­er. Other key members of the executive include Akibu Dalhatu, who occupies the position of Na­tional Financial Secretary, and Prof. Oserheimen Aigberaodion Osunbor, appointed as National Legal Adviser.

The party’s national secretar­iat is located at No. 4, Oyo Street, Area 2, Abuja, with contact lines 08055008888 and 08027789181.

Senator David Mark’s emer­gence as the National Chairman of the ADC signals a new phase for the party. A seasoned politi­cian and respected elder states­man, Mark’s political career spans decades of service at the highest levels of governance in Nigeria.

He served as the President of the Senate between 2007 and 2015, making him one of the lon­gest-serving Senate Presidents in Nigeria’s democratic history. Under his leadership, the Na­tional Assembly enjoyed relative stability and was widely credited for strengthening legislative inde­pendence.

Beyond the legislature, Mark has been a dominant figure in Ni­gerian politics since the return to democracy in 1999. Representing Benue South Senatorial District for five consecutive terms, he earned a reputation as a grass­roots politician, consensus build­er, and bridge between the old and new generation of leaders. His for­ay into opposition politics through the ADC is seen by political ana­lysts as a bold move to reposition the party as a viable alternative on the national stage, particularly as Nigerians yearn for stronger op­position voices ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The ADC, one of Nigeria’s prominent opposition parties, has in recent years been plagued by leadership tussles that weak­ened its organisational strength and eroded public confidence. The emergence of Mark at the helm, alongside other prominent political figures like Aregbesola and Osunbor, is expected to inject fresh momentum and credibility into the party’s activities.