The Executive Director of YIAGA Africa, Samson Itodo, has said the premature campaigns by political parties for the 2027 Nigerian general elections are not only illegal but also detrimental to governance, calling for strict punishment for defaulters.
In an interview on ARISE News’ “Prime Time” programme, on Thursday, Itodo said the law stipulates that premature campaign activities are not allowed.
“The law is clear that you should not engage in campaigns, not earlier than 50 days.
“You just look at the entire country. It just feels like we’ve got elections this weekend. And so people have abandoned governance and focused more on politicking and just electioneering.
“INEC has not issued timetable for the 2027 elections. Party primaries have not been conducted.
“Why is it that these actors are involved in what?”
Itodo described the early engagement of political actors in campaign activities as a clear indication of impunity among the political elite.
“It’s just across the board, and it’s just sad. It just tells you the level of impunity that you’ve got, the political elites that are not playing the game of politics by its rules,” he stated
When asked about the effectiveness of the current $500 penalty for flouting campaign rules, Itodo stated that the penalty is affordable and called for strict punishment.
“It’s not a deterrence. I think that we need to impose stiffer sanctions. The point needs to be made that when premature campaigns become the order of the day, what suffers is governance,” he added.
The critique is set against a backdrop of recent political developments, including the formation of a coalition by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi to challenge President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress in the 2027 elections, and the proliferation of Tinubu’s campaign billboards in Abuja.
INEC had on Monday cautioned political parties and candidates against engaging in premature electioneering activities ahead of the 2027 general elections, declaring that such actions are in clear violation of the Electoral Act.
The Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, told PUNCH Online that the acts contravene Section 94(1) and 95 (1) of the Electoral Act 2022.
“Section 94(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 stipulates that the period of campaigning in public by political parties for an election shall commence 150 days before polling day and end 24 hours before that day.
“Section 95 (1) of the Act also states clearly that a candidate and his or her party shall campaign for an election in accordance with such rules and regulations as may be determined by INEC,” he said.
PUNCH.
