INEC releases date for commencement of Governorship, Assembly campaigns 

Public campaigns for the February 6, 2027 governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will officially commence on September 19, according to the timetable and schedule of activities for the general elections.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had earlier opened campaigns for the Presidential and National Assembly elections on August 19.

Political parties have until September 26 to submit their final lists of candidates for the governorship and State Assembly elections to the commission.

The final list of candidates for the Presidential and National Assembly elections is expected to be published by INEC on September 12.

The commission has urged  political parties and candidates to comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act in conducting their campaigns, particularly those prohibiting campaigns based on religion or ethnicity.

Under Section 99 of the 2026 Electoral Act, candidates and their political parties are required to conduct campaigns in accordance with rules and regulations issued by the commission.

The section also prohibits the use of state apparatus, including the media, to give undue advantage or disadvantage to any political party or candidate.

It further provides that media time should be allocated equally among political parties and candidates at similar hours of the day.

For public electronic media, equal airtime is required for political parties and candidates during prime time at similar hours each day, subject to the payment of applicable fees.

Similarly, public print media are required to provide equal coverage and visibility to political parties.

Section 101 prohibits campaigns based on religion and provides penalties for violations, including fines of up to N3 million for individuals and N50 million for political parties.

The provisions are expected to guide campaign activities as political parties begin their mobilisation and public engagements ahead of the February 2027 elections.Note: Your original copy says Section 99 imposes fines of up to N5 million, but the subsequent paragraph attributes the religious-campaign penalties to Section 101.

Subsection 6 which provide for penalties states that any person who contravenes subsections (3) and (4) commits an offence and is liable on conviction, in the case of — (a) a public media, to a fine of ₦2,000,000 in the first instance and ₦5,000,000 for subsequent conviction; and (b) principal officers and other officers of the media house, to a fine of ₦1,000,000 or imprisonment for a term of six months.

Similarly, section101 which prohibit campaign based on religion states that “a candidate, person or association that engages in campaigning or broadcasting based on religious, tribal, or sectional reason for the purpose of promoting or opposing a particular political party or the election of a particular candidate, commits an offence under this Act and is liable on conviction — (a) to a minimum fine of ₦3,000,000 and maximum fine of ₦5,000,000 or imprisonment for a term of 12 months or both; and (b) in the case of a political party, to a minimum fine of ₦30,000,000 and maximum fine of ₦50,000,000”.

However, section 29 of the INEC guidelines for political parties descreibe political rallies or processions as activities or events organised by political parties, aspirants, or candidates as a means of awareness, and projecting to the people, ideas, programs, policies or preferences contained in the party manifestoes, symbols and flags in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and the Electoral Act.

It states further that Political Parties must conduct rallies to mobilize, sensitize, and create awareness about the party’s symbol, flag, slogan, and manifesto, while section 30 sets the procedures that must be followed by the parties at political rallies.

It states that “A Political Party shall, for purpose of a political rally or procession, issue in writing, a notice to the Commissioner of Police of the relevant State or the Federal Capital Territory, indicating the exact venue and time of the rally or procession, pledging peaceful conduct and control against violence or public nuisance.

“Political parties shall transmit to the Commission, through the Electoral Officer at the Local Government Area and the Resident Electoral Commissioner at the State, via a designated portal and also in hard copy, details of the schedule of their political rallies and processions at least 10 days to the date of the political rally or procession. The notice shall be signed by National Executives authorised by the Party Constitution”.

The guidelines also made provisions for clash of date, time or venue of  political rallies, stating in section 31 that “Where there is conflict in the date, venue or time of the activities of different political parties, the Nigeria Police Force shall resolve the conflict.”

Political parties are also expected to refrain from certain conducts which the commission said are not permissible during political rallies, stating that “no person attending a political rally or procession shall be in possession of any offensive weapon, except a police officer or a member of a security agency authorized to carry arms and is specifically posted to be present at that political rally or procession.

“No political rally or procession shall be conducted in places designated as religious centres, police stations, and public offices. Political rallies or processions shall not involve the use of abusive language or any form of hate speech.

“Political rallies or processions shall not involve the use of physical force or coercion by organised groups or individuals. Any political party in violation of the provisions shall be liable to prosecution in accordance with Section 96 of the Electoral Act