Obi Raises Vote-Safety Alarm As INEC Threatens Politicians With Jail, ₦10m Fine Over Incendiary Campaigns

• The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has called on voters to take responsibility for protecting their votes during the 2027 general elections, insisting that the credibility of the polls will ultimately depend on whether ballots are properly counted and the choices of Nigerians reflected in the final results.

• Speaking in Kogi State, the former Anambra State governor charged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct the 2027 elections freely, fairly and transparently, warning that Nigerians must be confident that the electoral umpire will resist political manipulation and ensure that every legitimate vote counts.

• The electoral commission has cautioned political parties and candidates against abusive, inflammatory, threatening or inciting statements ahead of the elections, stressing that campaign rhetoric capable of provoking ethnic, religious or sectional hostility could amount to an electoral offence under the Electoral Act 2026.

• INEC said a candidate convicted of prohibited campaign offences could face a maximum fine of ₦5 million or 12 months in prison, while a political party could be fined ₦10 million for a first offence and ₦2 million for each subsequent offence, as the commission urged the media to expose statements capable of intimidating voters, opponents or electoral officials.

September 07, () — Concerns over the credibility, safety and conduct of the 2027 general elections intensified on Sunday, as the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, urged Nigerians to protect their votes, while the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) warned politicians against inflammatory campaign rhetoric capable of triggering violence.

The parallel warnings came against the backdrop of growing political mobilisation ahead of the 2027 elections and renewed concerns about the ability of political actors and electoral institutions to guarantee a peaceful and credible contest.

Obi spoke in Ogugu, Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State, during a thank-you tour organised to appreciate supporters following the emergence of Peter Ameh as the NDC’s Kogi East senatorial candidate.

Addressing journalists after engaging supporters and residents, Obi said his major concern was not who would win the 2027 presidential election but whether Nigerians would be able to protect their votes and have their choices reflected in the final results.

“I am not worried about what the outcome of the 2027 general election will be. What worries me is the people and how they will protect their votes on election day. The votes of the people must be counted”, he stated.

The former Anambra State governor challenged INEC to remain independent and resist political manipulation, urging the commission to organise elections that are free, fair and transparent.

He said the credibility of the electoral process could not be separated from the ability of voters to participate without fear and to have their votes properly counted.

Obi also urged Nigerians to take an active role in protecting the integrity of the electoral process, stressing that citizens should not merely cast their ballots but remain vigilant to ensure that the votes cast are counted and accurately reflected in the declared results.

During his engagements in parts of Kogi, Benue and Enugu states, Obi said he had used the tour to interact directly with residents, traditional rulers, community leaders, traders and other stakeholders.

He said the concerns repeatedly raised by residents of Olamaboro in Kogi State, Otukpa in Benue State and Obollo Afor in Enugu State were remarkably similar.

According to him, insecurity, unemployment, poverty, inadequate healthcare and poor access to quality education remain major concerns across the communities.

Obi said the consistency of the complaints demonstrated that Nigerians were seeking fundamental improvements in governance rather than extravagant promises from politicians.

He, therefore, challenged presidential candidates to make the 2027 election an issue-based contest by going directly to communities and listening to the people instead of relying solely on political rallies and campaign rhetoric.

“When I was coming to Kogi State today, I stopped at Obollo Afor, Otukpa Junction, and asked some of our elderly people what their challenges were. This is what I want other presidential candidates to do”, he added.

He said his engagements had reinforced his conviction that the next government must concentrate on the basic needs of Nigerians, particularly education, security, healthcare, food production, employment and poverty reduction.

According to him, the government must ensure that children are in school, communities are secured, citizens have access to quality healthcare, and Nigerians are given opportunities to earn decent livelihoods.

Obi also expressed concern over the worsening effects of hunger and poverty, arguing that Nigeria could significantly improve food security by properly supporting farmers.

He said the country’s vast agricultural land remained largely underutilised because farmers were not receiving the necessary support to expand production.

“Look at our rural areas with huge farmlands. Nobody is supporting the farmers in all ramifications to enable them to produce the food we need to feed the nation”, he said.

On the economy, the NDC candidate said government should create an enabling environment for traders, small businesses and other productive sectors to thrive.

He said economic hardship remained one of the most pressing concerns among Nigerians and should therefore occupy a central position in the 2027 campaign.

Obi urged voters to scrutinise candidates on the basis of competence, capacity, character, compassion and commitment to national development rather than sentiment, ethnicity or party affiliation. He further encouraged Nigerians to participate fully in the election and safeguard their ballots to ensure that the eventual outcome represents the genuine will of the electorate.

He said his consultations across communities were also designed to rebuild trust between government and citizens.

Obi reaffirmed his commitment to placing security, education, healthcare, food production and poverty alleviation at the centre of the NDC’s political agenda, declaring that “A New Nigeria is POssible.”

INEC Draws Red Line On Campaign Rhetoric

Meanwhile, INEC has warned politicians and political parties that abusive, inflammatory and threatening campaign language will not be tolerated ahead of the 2027 elections.

The commission said politicians who cross the legal threshold risk prosecution and punishment under the Electoral Act 2026.

Speaking in an interview with newsmen, INEC’s Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to its Chairman, Adedayo Oketola, explained that political rhetoric becomes electoral intimidation when it moves beyond legitimate political criticism and degenerates into threats, hate speech, coercion or calls for violence.

He said campaign statements capable of provoking ethnic, religious or regional hostility could constitute an offence under Section 96 of the Electoral Act 2026.

Oketola cited the provision prohibiting political campaigns or slogans from being tainted with abusive language directly or indirectly likely to injure religious, ethnic, tribal or sectional feelings.

The law, he added, also prohibits the use of abusive, intemperate, slanderous or base language, as well as insinuations and innuendoes designed or likely to provoke violent reactions or emotions.

According to Oketola, politicians would also be deemed to have crossed the line when they threaten voters, opponents or electoral officials with violence, physical harm, economic punishment or social exclusion because of their political choices.

He said statements capable of creating fear among voters or discouraging particular groups from participating in elections could equally amount to intimidation.

Oketola acknowledged that INEC was primarily an election management body rather than a security agency, but said the Electoral Act assigned security agencies specific responsibilities during political rallies and other campaign activities.

He said INEC nonetheless had statutory powers to monitor political campaigns and enforce compliance with the Code of Conduct for Political Parties.

“Beyond inter-agency security coordination, INEC is statutorily empowered to monitor political campaigns and enforce compliance with the Code of Conduct for Political Parties. The Commission can issue formal queries and sanction non-compliant parties within its administrative limits”, he noted.

He also urged the media to play a more active role by exposing politicians whose statements could incite violence or intimidate voters, political opponents and electoral officials.

According to him, the warning is particularly important as political activities intensify and parties begin to mobilise supporters ahead of the 2027 elections.

The commission said the legal consequences for violating the provisions are clearly spelt out in the Electoral Act.

Oketola said Section 96(7) provides that a candidate convicted of the specified offences could be sentenced to a maximum fine of ₦5 million or imprisonment for 12 months.

“Any candidate who commits these offences is liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of ₦5,000,000 or imprisonment for a term of 12 months”, he said.

He added that political parties would also face financial penalties for violations.

“A non-compliant political party is liable to a fine of ₦10,000,000 in the first instance, and ₦2,000,000 for each subsequent offence”, he explained.

The warning by INEC adds a fresh dimension to preparations for the 2027 elections, with the commission seeking to prevent campaign activities from degenerating into threats, intimidation and violence.