INEC Cautions Parties, Candidates Over Surge in Abusive Campaigns in Oyo

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Oyo State has cautioned political parties and candidates over the rising use of abusive, intemperate and inflammatory language during political campaigns in the state.

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The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Oyo State, Professor Adeniran Tella, raised the concern at the commission’s stakeholders’ meeting with political parties held at the INEC office, Agodi, Ibadan.

Tella said the commission had observed, with deep concern, an increase in the degree of abusive and inflammatory language being used in political campaigns, warning parties and candidates to desist from hate speech and other forms of provocative messaging.

He said INEC had the statutory responsibility to monitor campaign activities and enforce compliance with the Code of Conduct for Political Parties, stressing that the commission would not hesitate to apply sanctions within its administrative authority.

“I urge you to abstain from all forms of hate speeches. The Commission has observed, with deep concern, a rise in abusive, intemperate and inflammatory languages during political campaigns,” Tella said.

He urged political parties and candidates to make their campaigns issue-based rather than focusing on personalities, ethnic or religious sentiments.

According to him, Section 96 of the Electoral Act 2026 prohibits campaign language capable of inflaming religious, ethnic, tribal or sectional sentiments or provoking violence.

He warned that convicted candidates could face fines of up to N5 million or 12 months’ imprisonment, while political parties could face a N10 million fine for a first offence.

Tella also said INEC had established clear channels of communication for political parties, noting that correspondence and inquiries must flow from the party’s National Secretariat to the National Headquarters of INEC in Abuja and then to the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state.

The REC promised a level playing field for all parties, assuring that INEC would remain impartial, transparent and accountable in the discharge of its responsibilities.

In their goodwill messages, representatives of the Nigeria Police Force, Immigration Service and Department of State Services advised political parties to shun violence, hate speech and intimidation.

Also speaking, the representative of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Mrs Olajumoke Odususi, appealed to the political parties to ensure that the messages from the stakeholders’ meeting were passed down to their members.

Representatives of civil society organisations, security agencies, political parties and religious bodies attended the meeting.