INEC to track illegal campaign spending, vows sanctions for violence, vote-buying

ABUJA — The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it will track illegal campaign spending and sanction political parties, candidates and agents involved in violence, hate speech and vote-buying ahead of the 2027 general election.

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

Amupitan said the commission was working with relevant government agencies to monitor campaign finances and curb the influence of money on the electoral process.

He said the commission was collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Justice, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU).

“Joint financial monitoring teams will be deployed to track illegal campaign spending and conduct undercover surveillance at polling units nationwide,” Amupitan said.

He warned political actors and their agents against attempting to buy votes with cash or material inducements, saying offenders would be arrested and prosecuted under the Electoral Act 2026.

“Attempt to trade cash or material gifts for votes, and you will face immediate arrest and prosecution under the Electoral Act 2026,” he said.

The INEC chairman also warned against political violence, intimidation and inflammatory rhetoric as parties intensify their campaigns ahead of the election.

“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.

According to him, the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) has activated an early-warning framework to monitor political violence, thuggery and dangerous campaign rhetoric.

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

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

He also expressed concern over the alleged use of firearms in political campaigns, citing an incident he said had been brought to his attention shortly before his address.

He urged politicians and citizens to act responsibly, stressing that elections were a periodic process for choosing leaders and should not become a source of violence.