The Claim: 2027: INEC cautions politicians, political parties against premature campaigns.
Full Text
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cautioned politicians and political parties against engaging in premature campaign activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The warning follows a growing wave of endorsements allegedly in favour of President Bola Tinubu.
Verification
INEC cautions politicians, political parties against premature campaigns ahead of the 2027 general elections.
INEC openly warned parties and political actors in early August 2025 that campaigning prior to the official timetable is illegal. In a consultative meeting and through public statements, INEC emphasized that:
It has not released the timetable for the 2027 General Election,
No primaries or nominations have taken place,
Campaigning is prohibited until 150 days before election day under the Electoral Act 2022, and must end 24 hours before voting begins .
This also supported by reporting by extensive billboards, posters, rice‐bags, and banners endorsing President Tinubu’s second term have been observed across major cities such as Abuja and Kano, prompting both INEC’s caution and the presidency’s own rare disavowal of unofficial campaign materials.
The presidency publicly distanced itself from these materials, calling them unauthorized, illegal under electoral law, and urging sponsors to cease immediately .
Independent media also highlighted that the early politicking by Tinubu’s supporters contravened the rules prescribed for campaigns.
The statement of INEC issued by Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi. in Abuja, while response to a question about the current subtle campaigns and printing of posters going on in country ahead of the 2027 General election.warnings to politicians to desist from premature campaigns were also reported on the Nigerian’s national daily newspapers and others prominent online news platforms like: Punch , vanguard , Dailypost
and The Cable among others.
Clarification
The Electoral Act 2022 allows campaigns to run during a window of 150 days before election day and ending 24 hours before polling begins.
INEC has not yet formally set or released the overall timeline or timetable for the 2027 general election .
Conclusion
INEC did caution politicians and parties against early campaign activities ahead of the 2027 general election, and that warning came in response to visible, unauthorized promotional activities, including endorsements.
