The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cautioned political parties and their candidates against the use of abusive, provocative and threatening language during their campaigns ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Commission said violators could face substantial fines and imprisonment in line with provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.
INEC Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the Chairman, Adedayo Oketola, explained that campaign statements become offences when they are capable of inciting violence, promoting hatred or intimidating voters, candidates and election officials.
Oketola stated that Section 96 of the Electoral Act 2026 prohibits political campaigns from deploying abusive, slanderous or inflammatory expressions that could provoke ethnic, religious or sectional tensions or trigger violent reactions.
He disclosed that candidates found guilty of breaching the provision could be punished with a fine of up to N5 million or a maximum of 12 months imprisonment. Political parties, he added, could be fined N10 million for a first offence and N2 million for each subsequent violation.
According to him, although INEC is not a security agency, the Commission has the responsibility to monitor campaign activities, ensure compliance with the Code of Conduct for Political Parties and impose appropriate sanctions where breaches occur.
He further explained that the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and other security agencies remain responsible for maintaining peace and order during political campaigns.
The INEC spokesman also called on the media, traditional institutions and religious leaders to help discourage politicians from making statements that could inflame tensions or encourage violence.
The warning follows increasing concerns over threatening and provocative comments allegedly made by some political actors ahead of the 2027 elections, some of which have drawn condemnation from civil society organisations and human rights groups.
INEC stressed that political campaigns should be centred on policies, programmes and ideas rather than intimidation or hate, noting that peaceful campaigns remain critical to credible elections, national unity and stability.
