On Wednesday, August 19, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will lift the embargo on public campaigns for the 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections. This marks another important phase in the electoral cycle and, given the history of elections in Nigeria, it is a period that demands vigilance from all stakeholders.
INEC’s revised timetable puts the presidential and National Assembly elections on January 16, 2027, while campaigns for the governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections are scheduled to commence on September 9. The Commission has also made it clear that campaigns must end 24 hours before election day.
As campaigns formally begin, political parties and candidates must recognise that the purpose of an election is to strengthen democracy, not threaten the peace and stability of the country. There must be a Nigeria after the election. No political ambition, party interest or personal aspiration is more important than the continued peace and unity of the country.
At Daily Trust, we therefore call on all political parties, candidates and their supporters to play by the rules and conduct issue-based campaigns. Political rhetoric must not become a weapon for deepening ethnic, religious or regional divisions. INEC’s 2026 Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties expressly prohibit, among others, the use of abusive language and hate speech during campaigns. The guidelines also prohibit campaigning in places designated as religious centres, police stations and public offices. In addition, they require that state apparatus must not be employed to the advantage or disadvantage of any political party or candidate.
This is particularly important given the increasingly toxic political atmosphere in the country. The ugly incidents witnessed in the build-up to the Osun governorship election should serve as a warning. Reports of politically motivated attacks, killings and other acts of violence in the state raised concerns about the safety of political actors and voters. Such conduct must not become a template for the national campaign.
Political parties must, therefore, resist the temptation to recruit or empower thugs and other criminal elements. No party should create an army of political enforcers that could later turn against society. Candidates and their supporters should understand that winning an election through violence or intimidation would ultimately weaken the democracy they seek to lead.
Security agencies also have a crucial responsibility. They must be professional, impartial and decisive in dealing with violations, irrespective of the political affiliation of the perpetrators. Security threats, whether real or manufactured, must not be used as an excuse to restrict legitimate political activity or disenfranchise voters.
We are particularly concerned about the manner in which security is deployed during elections, starting with the campaign period. Nigeria’s experience shows that security personnel are necessary to protect voters, election officials and electoral materials, particularly in areas where there are genuine threats. But their deployment must be guided by law, necessity and professionalism. The sight of heavily armed security personnel should not become a source of fear for ordinary citizens exercising their constitutional right to associate and vote.
The military, in particular, should have a clearly defined and limited role in the overall election security. Its involvement should be based on genuine security considerations and carried out in a manner that complements, rather than overwhelms, the civilian-led electoral security architecture. During the 2023 elections, soldiers were deployed to patrol potential hotspots, underscoring the security challenges confronting the country. But the objective should always be to create a secure environment for citizens, not an atmosphere of intimidation.
The police have an equally important role to play. Nigerians will be watching the implementation of the presidential directive to withdraw police personnel from VIP protection duties and redirect manpower towards core policing responsibilities. We expect the Inspector-General of Police to ensure that officers are not diverted to serve as political escorts or, worse, become instruments of intimidation during the campaign season.
The government must also not lose sight of governance. Nigeria has effectively been in a prolonged political season since the 2023 general election. The formal commencement of campaigns should not mean that governance is put on hold until after the polls. Federal and state governments have responsibilities to the people that continue regardless of political calendars. Public resources must not be diverted to partisan activities, and elected officials must continue to account for their stewardship.
State governments, in particular, must exercise restraint in the regulation of campaign activities. Fees for campaign billboards, posters, rallies and the use of public facilities must be reasonable, transparent and applied uniformly. Such regulations should never be designed to frustrate opposition parties or candidates. INEC’s guidelines are clear that the state apparatus must not be used to confer an advantage or disadvantage on any political party or candidate.
Finally, we urge the electorate not to allow themselves to become pawns in the political contests ahead. They must demand that candidates explain how they intend to address the country’s challenges rather than merely trade insults and accusations. The 2027 election should be a contest of ideas and records, not a competition in violence, intimidation and divisive rhetoric.
INEC has repeatedly stressed the collective responsibility of political parties, candidates, security agencies, the media, civil society and citizens in ensuring peaceful and credible elections. With campaigns now beginning, every stakeholder must rise to that responsibility. Nigeria belongs to all of us, and no election is worth putting the country at risk.
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