2027: INEC threatens ₦10m fine, 12-month jail term for abusive campaign

Ahead of the 2027 general election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) warned that politicians and political parties using abusive or inflammatory language in their campaigns risk heavy fines and imprisonment. INEC's spokesperson, Mr. Adedayo Oketola, stated that campaign rhetoric becomes electoral intimidation when it incites violence or targets specific groups. The 2026 Electoral Act explicitly prohibits language that could injure religious, ethnic, or tribal sentiments.