The Independent National Electoral Commission has warned that politicians and political parties who employ abusive, intemperate or inflammatory languages in their campaigns risk heavy financial penalties and possible imprisonment under the Electoral Act 2026.
The Commission has also urged the media to play its watchdog role by exposing violators.
A Warning Ahead of 2027
With the 2027 general elections approaching, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has issued a stark warning to politicians and political parties: abusive, intemperate or inflammatory language in campaigns will attract severe penalties, including hefty fines and possible imprisonment.
The warning comes as the country grapples with a fresh wave of threats by political office holders against dissenting voters.
Adedayo Oketola, Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the INEC Chairman, told our correspondent on Sunday, September 6, 2026, that campaign rhetoric crosses the legal threshold into electoral intimidation the moment it moves beyond robust partisan debate or policy critique and enters the realm of coercion, hate speech, or the threat of harm.
The Legal Framework
Oketola cited Section 96 of the Electoral Act 2026, which explicitly prohibits campaigns that incite ethnic, religious or regional hostility.
“A political campaign or slogan shall not be tainted with abusive language directly or indirectly likely to injure religious, ethnic, tribal or sectional feelings,” he quoted.
The law further provides that “abusive, intemperate, slanderous or base language, insinuations, innuendoes designed or likely to provoke violent reaction or emotions shall not be employed or used in political campaigns”.
Penalties for Violations
According to Oketola, the Electoral Act 2026 prescribes severe statutory penalties for offenders.
“Any candidate who commits these offences is liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of ₦5,000,000 or imprisonment for a term of 12 months,” he said.
Political parties face even stiffer sanctions.
“A non-compliant political party is liable to a fine of ₦10,000,000 in the first instance, and ₦2,000,000 for each subsequent offence,” he stated.
A Collective Responsibility
Oketola insisted, however, that electoral integrity cannot be preserved by INEC alone, describing it as a collective stakeholder duty.
“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 that the media must actively play its watchdog role by calling out purveyors of incendiary statements, while traditional and religious leaders must also contribute to promoting peaceful campaigns.
The Historical Context
Nigeria’s political history is replete with examples of incendiary campaign rhetoric that has led to violence, loss of life and the destabilisation of communities.
The 2023 general elections witnessed several instances of hate speech and ethnic mobilisation that threatened the country’s unity.
The Electoral Act 2026 represents an attempt to curb this trend by imposing meaningful penalties on violators.
The Challenge of Enforcement
While the penalties are welcome, the challenge lies in enforcement. Previous attempts to regulate campaign speech have often been undermined by selective enforcement, political interference and the difficulty of prosecuting high-profile offenders.
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The success of the new provisions will depend on the willingness of INEC, the judiciary and security agencies to apply them consistently and without fear or favour.
A Lesson for Nigerian Youths
INEC’s warning is a necessary step towards sanitising Nigeria’s political discourse, but the law is only as effective as its enforcement.
For young Nigerians, the lesson is clear: the tone of political debate matters. When leaders use abusive and inflammatory language, they normalise violence and division.
The same people who incite ethnic and religious hatred will never allow their own children to live in a society torn apart by such divisions.
Demand civil discourse. Hold leaders accountable. And never forget that words have consequences.
