INEC Warns Politicians: No Bloodshed, Vote-Buying or Hate Speech in 2027

The Independent National Electoral Commission has warned political parties and candidates against turning the 2027 general election into a contest marked by violence, hate speech and vote-buying, saying no political ambition is worth the life of a Nigerian.

INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, issued the warning in Abuja at a strategic workshop for editors organised by the Nigerian Guild of Editors in partnership with the electoral commission. He said the commission would pursue arrests, sanctions and prosecution of politicians, campaign managers and agents found violating electoral laws.

Amupitan said INEC had activated an early-warning framework through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security to track political violence, thuggery and inflammatory campaign rhetoric. He warned that parties or candidates linked to violent attacks, disruption of opponents’ rallies or the use of armed thugs would face legal action.

The chairman also raised concerns over alleged threats involving firearms during the ongoing political campaigns. He said he had been shown evidence of a Kano candidate allegedly campaigning while displaying a gun, as well as a separate threat involving the use of AK-47 rifles against INEC officials. The claims were presented by Amupitan as examples of the behaviour the commission intends to confront.

Vote-buying was another major concern highlighted at the meeting. Amupitan said INEC was taking what he described as an uncompromising position against the practice and was working with the Ministry of Justice, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit to tackle money-driven electoral malpractice.

The commission is also preparing for a larger voter register ahead of the 2027 election. Amupitan said the three phases of Continuous Voter Registration conducted between August 2025 and July 2026 produced more than 10.6 million new registrants. INEC’s current official platform lists more than 93 million registered voters nationwide and places the 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections on January 16, 2027.

On election technology, Amupitan disclosed that INEC had acquired 57,000 additional BVAS devices and was strengthening electronic result management. INEC has previously said its enhanced system requires Presiding Officers to capture and upload Form EC8A to the IReV portal while entering party scores directly into BVAS, with internal checks designed to flag over-voting and inconsistent figures.

The chairman also disclosed that INEC was reviewing security arrangements for its personnel, particularly in areas affected by insecurity. He said staff in some North-West states had requested bulletproof vests and vehicles, while the commission was considering bulletproof vehicles for personnel working in identified flashpoints. Nigerian Guild of Editors President Eze Anaba, meanwhile, urged INEC and the media to maintain open communication as misinformation, manipulated content and deepfakes become increasingly prominent in the electoral environment.