The Independent National Electoral Commission and the Nigeria Police Force have warned politicians against issuing threats and making inflammatory statements capable of disrupting the 2027 general elections.
The two institutions said they would take action against political actors whose utterances violate the law as political activities intensify ahead of the elections.
INEC and the police spoke against the backdrop of growing concerns over provocative rhetoric by politicians across the country.
The commission said the Electoral Act empowers it to take administrative action against political parties and candidates found violating campaign regulations, while the police maintained that incitement is a criminal offence punishable under Nigerian law.
The Executive Secretary of Yiaga Africa, Samson Itodo, and human rights lawyer, Jiti Ogunye, among others, however, urged security agencies to go beyond warnings and invitations by prosecuting politicians whose statements constitute offences.
Politicians under scrutiny
Several political actors have in recent months made statements that critics described as threatening or capable of inciting violence.
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on April 25, warned opposition politicians against being forced to defect to the ruling party.
Speaking at a meeting of opposition political party leaders in Ibadan, Makinde referenced the political violence of the First Republic, warning those acting “as if there’s no tomorrow” to remember that “Operation Wetie started from here.”
On May 2, former Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Buba Galadima, also sparked controversy when he urged Nigerians to go to polling units with “bottles and jerry cans of kerosene” during the 2027 elections.
In Osun State, Governor Ademola Adeleke on August 3 warned that the people of the state would resist any attempt to rig the August 15 governorship election, while Senator Francis Fadahunsi was seen in a viral video allegedly issuing threats against members of the Accord Party in Ilesa.
Similar controversial statements have also emerged from political actors in the Federal Capital Territory, Borno, Ebonyi and Yobe states.
The Chairman of Kuje Area Council, Samuel Shekwolo, was reportedly quoted as threatening non-supporters of the All Progressives Congress, while Borno State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Sainna Buba, allegedly threatened that those who refused to support the APC in 2027 would be flogged.
In Ebonyi State, Ohaukwu Local Government Chairman, Eze Ituma, reportedly warned opposition parties and their supporters against political activities that conflicted with his interests.
The APC Chairman in Yobe State, Muhammad Gadaka, also generated controversy after urging married women whose husbands prevented them from voting for the APC to seek divorce.
The statements have heightened concerns over the possibility of political violence as parties intensify mobilisation ahead of the 2027 elections.
Electoral Act prohibits threats
The Electoral Act 2026 prohibits threats, intimidation and the use of force or violence during political campaigns.
Section 97(1) prohibits political parties, candidates, aspirants or other persons from directly or indirectly threatening another person with force or violence in order to compel support for, or opposition to, a political party or candidate.
Section 132 also criminalises the use or threat of force, violence or restraint to influence a person’s voting decision.
A person convicted under the provision is liable to a fine of N2m or imprisonment for three years.
INEC said political rhetoric becomes intimidation when it involves direct or indirect threats of force or violence against voters, candidates or electoral officials.
The commission said such intimidation could also involve threats of physical harm, economic reprisals or social exclusion aimed at forcing people to support or reject a particular candidate or party.
The Media Adviser to the INEC Chairman, Adedayo Oketola, said the commission was empowered to monitor political campaigns and enforce compliance with the Code of Conduct for Political Parties.
He said campaigns should be “platforms of competing ideas, not theatres of war.”
Oketola added that Section 96(7) of the Electoral Act prescribed penalties for violations, including fines and imprisonment for candidates and financial penalties for political parties.
Police vow action
The Nigeria Police Force also warned politicians and other individuals against making inflammatory statements ahead of the elections.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Anietie Iniedu, described incitement as a criminal offence and said the police would not spare anyone whose comments threatened public peace.
He said the force was preparing public enlightenment campaigns across its commands to sensitise officers and citizens on inciting and inflammatory statements.
“One of the things we’re going to do is enlightenment across all commands concerning inciting and inflammatory comments. Incitement is a criminal offence and we will not spare anyone trying to heat up the politics with inciteful comments,” Iniedu said.
He said existing laws would be enforced and suspects could be arrested, investigated and prosecuted where evidence established an offence.
CSOs demand prosecution
Yiaga Africa called for stronger enforcement against politicians who make statements capable of undermining public safety and the electoral process.
Its Executive Secretary, Samson Itodo, accused security agencies of sometimes treating political elites differently from ordinary citizens.
“It is as if there are two separate justice systems in the country: one for the elites and the other for the masses,” he said.
Itodo warned that failure to punish inflammatory political rhetoric could encourage further threats and contribute to pre-election violence, voter intimidation and low turnout.
He urged security agencies to communicate their actions more transparently to strengthen public confidence in the electoral process.
The President of the Centre for Change, Dr Joe Odumakin, also attributed the rising threats to political desperation, intolerance, weak accountability and the manipulation of ethnic and religious sentiments.
She urged politicians to focus on policies and leadership rather than treating political opponents as enemies.
Lawyers seek enforcement
Human rights lawyer, Jiti Ogunye, said politicians should persuade voters instead of resorting to threats and intimidation.
He argued that threats and inflammatory statements were already criminalised under the Electoral Act and other laws, but continued because perpetrators had not faced sufficient consequences.
“Using threats is a crime in the Electoral Act and Criminal Laws, but despite these statutory provisions, politicians continue to do this because violence, threats and inflammatory statements have become part and parcel of their armoury to attain or forcibly retain power,” Ogunye said.
Constitutional lawyer, Victor Opatola, also urged political parties to sanction members who make inflammatory statements.
He said the failure of political parties and law enforcement agencies to take decisive action was contributing to the spread of threatening rhetoric.
APC denies encouraging violence
The ruling All Progressives Congress, however, rejected allegations that it encourages political violence or inflammatory campaigns.
The APC National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, said the party believed in issue-based campaigns centred on its achievements in government.
“Our party does not engage in violent campaigns or use threats or inflammatory language. We believe in campaigning on the achievements of our party in government at all levels,” Basiru said.
He also condemned attempts to exploit ethnic and religious affiliations for political purposes.
With political mobilisation expected to intensify in the months ahead, INEC, the police, civil society organisations and legal practitioners have urged political parties and their supporters to ensure that the 2027 electoral process is not overshadowed by threats, intimidation and violence.