The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has given the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) seven days to identify and prosecute politicians and political parties allegedly flouting the law on early election campaigns.
In a letter dated September 13, 2025, and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP urged INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, to sanction offenders and develop clear regulations to curb premature campaigns, which it described as “unconstitutional and illegal.”
The rights group accused several governors of diverting fuel subsidy windfalls to finance early campaigns instead of investing in development, despite rising revenues shared by the Federation Account Allocation Committee.
“INEC is not helpless when political parties and candidates contravene the legally prescribed period for election campaigns. Early campaigns are unconstitutional and illegal,” SERAP said.
The group noted that under Section 94 of the Electoral Act, campaigns should only commence 150 days before polling day.
It urged INEC to enforce this provision using its constitutional powers under Section 83 of the Act and Section 225 of the Constitution to demand accountability from political parties.
SERAP warned that failure to act would amount to tacit approval of violations of the Constitution and the Electoral Act, creating a culture of impunity.
“By failing to sanction parties and candidates engaging in early election campaigns, INEC is implicitly condoning violations of the Constitution and the country’s international human rights obligations,” the letter added.
The organisation stressed that prolonged electioneering undermines governance, facilitates diversion of public resources, and gives unfair advantage to incumbents.
It threatened court action if INEC fails to comply with its demands within seven days.