The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned political parties in Oyo State against abusive and inflammatory campaign language, saying erring individuals and parties risk fines and imprisonment under the Electoral Act, 2026.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Prof. Adeniran Tella, gave the warning at a stakeholders’ meeting in Ibadan on Thursday.
Tella said the commission had observed a rise in abusive, intemperate and inflammatory language during the ongoing political campaigns.
He said INEC had the statutory responsibility to monitor campaign activities and enforce compliance with the Code of Conduct for political parties.
The REC said campaigns should be issue-based “and not based on personality, ethnic or religious matters”.
Tella added that Section 96 of the Electoral Act, 2026 prohibits campaign language that could harm religious, ethnic, tribal or sectional feelings or provoke violence.
He reminded politicians that individuals who violate the provision could face fines of up to N5 million or 12 months’ imprisonment.
“Political parties will face fines up to N10 million for a first offence,” he said.
Tella also directed political parties in the state to submit schedules of their campaign activities, including the venues and dates of rallies and meetings, to the commission’s state headquarters for monitoring.
He said 38 candidates are contesting the three senatorial seats in the state, while 151 candidates are contesting the 14 House of Representatives seats.
“Regarding the governorship and State House of Assembly elections, the commission has published the particulars of candidates on Form EC9.
“The final list for state-level candidates is scheduled for publication on Oct. 10.
“So, I urge all party leaders to verify the details of their candidates and ensure that their credentials are in order, as there will be no room for errors at that stage,” he stated.
The REC also said INEC had opened its portal for the recruitment of ad-hoc staff to be deployed across 6,319 polling units in the state.
According to him, the portal opened on September 18 and will remain accessible until midnight on Nov. 18.
Tella said the commission would provide a level playing field for all parties and candidates and appealed to political parties, candidates and their supporters to treat politics as a contest of ideas.
“We shall remain impartial, transparent and accountable as an umpire in the electoral process,” he said.
The police representative at the meeting, Mr Usen Ekanem, urged political parties and candidates to campaign peacefully and focus on what they would do for voters.
He said parties should notify the police of their rally and campaign venues and dates at least 48 hours in advance to allow security personnel to be deployed.
The Department of State Services (DSS) representative, G. E. Akaram, urged political parties to shun violence and stop destroying opponents’ campaign billboards.
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) representative, Mrs Florence Shiyanbade, also urged parties to focus on their manifestoes rather than engage in fights and violence.
The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), represented by its state Deputy Chairman, Mrs Olajumoke Odususi, called on political parties to support INEC and security agencies in conducting the elections.
Odususi said IPAC had started orienting its members on the need to ensure that campaigns remain issue-based.
She also urged political parties not to treat the forthcoming elections as a do-or-die affair.
