INEC Warns Politicians: ‘No Political Office Is Worth Nigerian Blood’

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has warned political parties, candidates and campaign managers against violence, intimidation, hate speech and vote-buying ahead of the 2027 general elections.

INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan issued the warning in Abuja at a strategic workshop for editors organised by the Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE, in collaboration with the commission.

“No political office in this country is worth the blood of a single Nigerian,” Amupitan said.

INEC Threatens Sanctions and Prosecution

Amupitan said the commission would not allow political competition to become violent as electioneering gathers pace.

“As electioneering intensifies across the country, I must sound a clear note of warning to all political parties, candidates and campaign managers: INEC will not stand by and allow political competition to devolve into violence, intimidation or inflammatory rhetoric,” he said.

He said political parties or candidates found inciting violence, disrupting opponents’ rallies or deploying armed thugs would face statutory sanctions and prosecution.

The INEC chairman added that democracy should be a competition of ideas rather than threats or force.

“Democracy thrives on the clash of ideas, not the clash of weapons or the proliferation of hate speech,” he said.

Vote-Buying and Campaign Funding

INEC also said it would intensify action against vote-buying and illegal campaign financing.

According to Amupitan, the commission is working with the Federal Ministry of Justice, EFCC, ICPC and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, NFIU, to monitor campaign finances and detect unlawful spending.

He said the commission would use financial-monitoring arrangements and undercover surveillance at polling units to identify individuals or groups attempting to exchange money or material inducements for votes.

INEC Says It Has No Preferred Candidate

Amupitan also sought to reassure Nigerians that INEC has no preferred candidate, party or political agenda.

“We have no preferred candidate, no preferred political party, and no agenda other than guaranteeing a free, fair, transparent, and credible election,” he said.

He said the commission’s allegiance is to the Constitution and the law, with its obligation directed to Nigerian voters.

2027 Election Dates

INEC has scheduled the presidential and National Assembly elections for Saturday, January 16, 2027.

Governorship and State House of Assembly elections in participating states are scheduled for Saturday, February 6, 2027.

The commission said the national voter register had risen above 103 million following the Continuous Voter Registration exercise.

Technology and Security Plans

INEC said it has acquired 57,000 additional BVAS devices as part of preparations to strengthen voter accreditation and election administration.

The commission said the devices are undergoing software hardening, battery optimisation and biometric calibration. It is also improving its electronic result-management system and the eEC8A form used to record and authenticate polling-unit results before upload to the INEC Result Viewing Portal, IReV.businessday+2

The objective is to improve the recording, verification and transmission of results from polling units.

Firearm Concerns

Amupitan also referred to disturbing political conduct involving firearms.

He said he had been shown material involving an alleged NDC candidate in Kano State who was reportedly campaigning while holding a firearm. He also referred to an alleged threat against INEC personnel involving AK-47 rifles.

Those are claims presented by the INEC chairman and should be treated as allegations unless independently investigated and confirmed by law-enforcement authorities.

Nigeria’s Electoral Act prohibits the carrying or possession of offensive weapons, including firearms, at political rallies and processions.

Bottom Line

INEC says it will pursue sanctions, arrests and prosecution against political actors linked to violence, hate speech, armed thuggery, vote-buying and illegal campaign financing ahead of the 2027 elections.

The commission’s central message is clear: no campaign, political ambition or elective office should come at the cost of a Nigerian life. The credibility of the warning will depend on whether enforcement is applied consistently, transparently and without regard to party affiliation.

Source: Gistreel