Absorb threatening to demand Inec if it fails to punish politicians who start the election campaign earlier

The Socio-Economic and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged Professor Mahmood Yakubu, Chairperson of the Independent National Election Commission (Inec) “to identify politicians and political parties openly violate the provisions of constitutional law and law and international standards that prohibit the initial election campaign and to ensure the prosecution and prosecution of the law that prohibits the prohibiting it.

Snap said “to monitor political parties that violate constitutional provisions and laws and international standards that prohibit initial election campaigns and develop clear regulations to regulate the behavior of parties and politicians regarding early election campaigns in Nigeria.”

Inec last week expressed concern about the initial election campaign by political parties, which stated that the campaign had damaged its ability to track the campaign financial boundaries. Inec also claims there are no sanctions for the initial election campaign.

But in the letter dated September 13, 2025 and signed by the Deputy Director of Collawole Oluwadaree, the organization said: “Inec is helpless when political parties, candidates and other politicians are in conflict with the period determined legally for the election campaign. The initial election campaign is institutional and illegal.”

Serap said, “The mandate of the constitution and the law of Inec extends to sanction or punish violations of elections, including the initial election campaign.”

According to absorption, “Inec should not be seen as encouraging or giving legitimacy to political parties, candidates and other politicians who conduct an initial election campaign outside the legislative period of the campaign that is legally determined.”

The letter was read in part: “The initial election campaign has a bad effect on economic development due to a prolonged election madness.”

“Because Inec has not published the schedule and schedule of activities for the election, the initial election campaign is inconsistent and is not in accordance with the letter and spirit of the 1999 Nigeria Constitution [as amended]Law on the Election and Obligations of the State International Human Rights. “

“Some state governors seem to use the fortune of fuel subsidies for the initial election campaign. Some state governors failed to invest in social and economic development and provide important services to its residents despite significant increase in income since the transfer of fuel subsidies.”

“Enforcing a prohibition on the initial election campaign will make sense, can be justified and proportional, because it will function to achieve human dignity, equality, and freedom. Inec has constitutional obligations and broad laws to promote, protect, uphold the rule of law and maintain public interest.”

“Every failure by Inec to enforce constitutional restrictions and campaign laws of the initial elections and international human rights obligations will create a culture of the impunity of their perpetrators and sponsors.”

“By failing to act or sanctioned parties to political parties, candidates and other politicians because they were involved in the initial election campaign, Inec implicitly forgiving violations of the Nigerian constitution, laws and obligations of international human rights in the country.”

“Therefore, we will be grateful if the recommended steps are taken within seven days from the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard of news from you at that time, absorbing will take all the right legal actions to force you and Inec to fulfill our requests for the public interest.

“It is absorbed that the political parties and politicians start the campaign immediately after the 2023 general election instead of complying with the legal requirements that the campaign starts 150 days before the 2027 general election.”

“Instead of prioritizing giving good governance to their people, the Governor of the State and other politicians are lifting campaign banners throughout the country asking for votes.”

“Inec can rely on part 83 of the Election Law to seek information or clarification from political parties about how they comply with constitutional prohibitions on the initial election campaign and direct the parties to immediately end the practice that clearly contrary to the Nigerian constitution and the Election Law.”

“Inec must impose sanctions on political parties and candidates who failed to comply with their direction, as determined in section 83 (4) Nigeria’s constitution.”

“Inec must also use part 225 of the Nigerian constitution to sue from political parties sources of funding by parties and candidates for the initial election campaign.”

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“Some political parties, candidates, and other politicians promoted themselves and combed votes before 150 days determined by the Election Law. Political parties, candidates and other politicians could not elevate themselves above the law.”

“The initial election campaign undermined the provisions of chapters 2 and 4 of the Nigerian Constitution which included the fundamental objectives and principles of state policy direction and fundamental rights.”

“Specifically, the initial election campaign violates economic and social rights, the right to equality and equal protection of law, sustainable development, and the right to free and fair elections as guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution and the country’s international human rights obligations.”

“Inec will be considered to have violated these rights if the commission continues to fail to prevent the initial election campaign or punish those who do them, because it will create conditions that are not beneficial for the realization of the effective human rights.”

“150 days before the election date is sufficient time for political parties, candidates and other politicians to prepare themselves to find the voices of the Nigerians and to fulfill their fate in the election box.”

“The Nigerian constitutional designers and the Election Law have never reflected that the political season will be a sustainable exercise. Public officials must comply with the constitutional code of ethics for public officials and face legal consequences if they fail to do that.”

“Several candidates and other elected public officials have left their constitutional oaths, including to act for the sake of Nigerian welfare and prosperity, and to preserve, protect and defend the Nigerian constitution.”

“Politicians including several state governors prioritize the election campaign rather than focusing on achieving Nigerian socio-economic welfare, especially the marginalized and less fortunate population sectors.”

“The initial election campaign facilitates the transfer of public resources and disruption of public services and damages access to citizens to public goods and services, because they provide unfair benefits for reasons or powerful candidates, thus eroding transparency, justice and impartiality.”

“The failure to punish political parties, candidates, and other politicians for being involved in the initial election campaign will continue to enable elected officials to use public resources for political purposes, and violate the rule of law.”

“This will also endanger the neutrality of public offices, violate the principles of public services and create conflicts of interest.”

“According to our information, you have recently expressed concern about the initial election campaign by political parties and candidates before the 2027 general election.”

“You also expressed concern that ‘these actions and activities damage the ability of the commission to track the financial boundaries of the campaign as politicians, candidates and third -party agents spend a large amount of money that cannot be monitored effectively before the official campaign starts.'”

“However, you claim that there are no sanctions for the initial election campaign by political parties and politicians.”

“Absorption records that part 94 (1) Nigerian constitution states that ‘the campaign period in public by each political party will begin 150 days before the voting day and end 24 hours before that day.'”

“Part 94 (2) also states that, ‘every political party for 24 hours before the voting day -(a) advertising any broadcasting facilities that do to promote or oppose certain candidates, commit violations based on this law and are responsible for punishment with a maximum fine of 500,000.'”

“Paragraph F part 1 of the third schedule for the Nigerian constitution empower Inec in section 15 (f) to ‘monitor political campaigns and provide regulations and regulations that will regulate political parties.'”