ABUJA, Nigeria — The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has raised concerns over the growing trend of incumbents leveraging their positions to gain unfair advantage through early election campaigns, despite existing legal restrictions.
Victoria Etta-Messi, INEC’s director of voter education and publicity, described the situation as “dicey” during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, September 10, 2025.
She explained that while the law prohibits campaigns more than 150 days before elections, the absence of specific penalties makes enforcement impossible.
“The point was made that any state you go to, any government in power takes advantage. And again, people are using incumbency benefits to their advantage to the detriment of those not in office,” Etta-Messi said.
“It’s being between the devil and the deep blue sea. It is actually a dicey problem, which was why the commission thought that all critical stakeholders who have a role to play should come together and begin to brainstorm and to think of the way forward.”
Earlier on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, INEC chairman Mahmood Yakubu, speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja, highlighted the legal gap.
He cited section 94(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, which prohibits campaigns earlier than 150 days before the election, but noted that the law does not specify any sanction for breaches.
Etta-Messi acknowledged criticism directed at INEC for failing to act but insisted the commission’s options remain limited until the National Assembly amends the law.
“A lot of attacks have been on the commission, saying that the commission isn’t doing much, but our hands are tied. There really isn’t much we can do until the legal framework is amended, and that will give us power to take action,” she said.
She also pointed to section 94(2) of the Electoral Act, which permits INEC to intervene only if campaigns take place within 24 hours of election day.
“The only part of the law, section 84(2), is just a slap on the wrist and only allows us to take action if a campaign is conducted 24 hours to election but it’s silent on what should be done with defaulters who conduct campaigns before the 150-day window,” she added.
The commission has called on political stakeholders, civil society, and lawmakers to collaborate in addressing the loophole to ensure fairer competition as the 2027 general election approaches.
