The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to identify and prosecute politicians and political parties engaging in early election campaigns, warning that failure to act could lead to legal action.
In a letter dated September 13, 2025, and signed by SERAP Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation urged INEC Chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu to monitor political parties breaching constitutional and statutory provisions that prohibit campaigning outside the legally prescribed period. SERAP stressed that such early campaigns are “unconstitutional and illegal” and can have adverse effects on economic development due to prolonged electioneering.
The group noted that several state governors are allegedly using recent fuel subsidy windfalls to fund premature campaigns, while failing to prioritise social and economic development or pay new minimum wages to workers.
SERAP noted that the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) shared N28.78 trillion in 2024, a 79 per cent increase from 2023, but the country continues to rank low in infrastructure quality and has over 129 million people living in extreme poverty.
“Rather than prioritising delivering good governance to their people, state governors and other politicians are hoisting campaign banners across the country soliciting for votes,” SERAP said. The organisation pointed out that political actors began campaigning immediately after the 2023 general elections instead of complying with the Electoral Act requirement that campaigns commence 150 days before the 2027 elections.
SERAP further outlined INEC’s constitutional and statutory authority to sanction electoral offences, including early campaigns. It cited Section 83 of the Electoral Act, which empowers INEC to seek information from political parties and direct them to stop illegal campaigning, as well as Section 225, which allows the commission to demand details of campaign funding sources.
The letter emphasised that early election campaigns undermine fundamental economic and social rights, equality before the law, sustainable development, and the right to free and fair elections.
SERAP warned that by failing to enforce prohibitions, INEC could be seen as condoning violations of the Constitution, the Electoral Act, and Nigeria’s international human rights obligations.
“Any failure by INEC to fairly enforce constitutional and statutory prohibitions of early election campaigns and the country’s international human rights obligations would create a culture of impunity of perpetrators and their sponsors,” the letter read.
SERAP has requested that INEC take the recommended measures within seven days of the receipt or publication of the letter, cautioning that it will pursue all appropriate legal actions if the commission fails to act in the public interest.
The organisation concluded that enforcing the legal prohibition on early election campaigns is necessary to uphold public service neutrality, prevent misuse of public resources, and protect citizens’ access to public goods and services.
