The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned political parties and their supporters against abusive campaigns.
Prof. Adeniran Tella, the Resident Electoral Commissioner(REC) in Oyo State, gave the warning on Wednesday at the zonal stakeholders’ engagement, held in Oyo town.
Tella, who expressed deep concern over the rising tide of abusive and inflammatory language during the recent campaigns, said the commission would not hesitate to enforce the Electoral Act 2026 against erring individuals or political parties.
According to him, the Electoral Act 2026, section 96 prohibits campaign language that could harm religious, ethnic, or sectional feelings or provoke violence.
He said individuals found culpable would pay fines of N5 million or 12 months imprisonment, while political parties pay N10 million fine for a first offence.
He urged parties to make their campaigns issue-based, focused on manifestos and the welfare of the people, not character assassination.
He further urged political parties to submit their campaign schedules, including venues and dates, to the INEC state office for effective monitoring.
He asserted that the task of delivering a credible, inclusive and peaceful election is not the work of INEC alone, but a shared responsibility that demands the active partnership of every stakeholder.
The REC also appealed to traditional rulers, religious leaders, market leaders, youth groups, and other stakeholders in the zone to intensify grassroots mobilisation for the collection of Permanent Voter Cards(PVCs) still in the custody of the commission.
He said 61,979 uncollected PVCs belonging to eligible voters in Oyo zone which comprising Oyo West, Oyo East, Afijio and Atiba LGAs were in the commission’s custody.
He also announced that the portal for recruitment of ad-hoc staff to be deployed across the 6,319 polling units in the state had been opened.
In his remarks, the State Chairman of InterParty Advisory Committee (IPAC),
Mr Opeyemi Akinade promised that all political parties and candidates would
abide by the rules and regulations.
Akinade pledged on behalf of political parties to eschew all forms of violence and hate speeches before during and after the conduct of the general elections.
The Vice Chancellor, Atiba University Oyo, Prof. Sunday Okeniyi also pledged that academic community would contribute their own quota towards the smooth conduct of credible elections in the state.
In his remarks, representative of the National Orientation Agency (NOA),Mr Azeez Olasunkanmi, attested to the need for mutual support to collaborate with INEC in conducting credible elections.
Olasunkanmi enjoined eligible voters to collect their unclaimed PVCs to enable them partake in chosen credible leaders.