The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to identify and sanction politicians or political parties engaged in early electioneering, warning that failure to act could result in legal action.
In a letter dated 13 September 2025, SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, faulted INEC for what it described as “a posture of helplessness” while politicians openly defy the law by campaigning outside the officially prescribed period.
The organisation insisted that early campaigns are unconstitutional, illegal, and harmful to Nigeria’s democratic process, stressing that INEC has both constitutional and statutory powers to penalise such electoral offences.
INEC had, last week, raised concerns about the growing trend of premature campaigns, lamenting that it undermines the Commission’s ability to monitor campaign spending and enforce finance limits. The Commission had also suggested there was no clear sanction for such violations.
But SERAP countered this position, insisting that the Electoral Act empowers INEC to act decisively.
“INEC should not be seen to encourage or give legitimacy to political parties, candidates, and other politicians who engage in campaigns outside the legally prescribed period,” the letter read in part.
The group warned that prolonged electioneering has negative economic consequences, fueling political instability and distracting from governance.
It added:
“Since INEC has yet to publish the timetable and schedule of activities for the elections, any early election campaign is inconsistent with the letter and spirit of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Electoral Act, and Nigeria’s international human rights obligations.”
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