INEC Flags Incumbent Parties for Early Campaigning, Calls Practice Unfair

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has publicly addressed the issue of early campaigning by incumbent parties, calling the practice an abuse of power that creates an uneven playing field ahead of the 2027 general elections. Victoria Etta-Messi, INEC’s Director of Voter Education and Publicity, noted that the electoral body is well aware of the subtle strategies employed by political parties currently in power.Speaking on the issue, Etta-Messi explained that government-backed parties routinely use public relations tools such as political rallies, prominent billboards, media interviews, and the widespread promotion of their achievements as an indirect but effective form of campaign. She stated that while these activities are often framed as official duties or public communicationthey are, in reality, a means for parties to remain in the public consciousness and gain an unfair advantage over their opponents.

The INEC official clarified that this trend is not exclusive to a single political party. According to her, it is a pervasive issue across the country, where any government in power tends to leverage its incumbency to the detriment of opposition parties not in office.
challenges faced by the electoral body in regulating political communication ahead of the official campaign window and highlight the need for a more level playing field for all political contestants.
Etta-Messi’s remarks underscore the