The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has raised concerns over the growing trend of early campaigning by politicians and their surrogates, which is in clear violation of existing laws. According to Prof. Abdullahi Zuru, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Board of the Electoral Institute (TEI), this trend is now being disguised as “appreciation” or “philanthropy” and is being carried out through various means, including billboards, social media, and physical gatherings.
Zuru noted that when aspirants or parties compete to dominate visibility long before the official campaign period, it distorts fairness and raises the cost of political competition. He added that this trend distracts elected officials from governance, erodes public confidence in the electoral system, and fuels cynicism about the rule of law. To address this issue, Zuru emphasized the need to refine the regulatory framework to clearly define what constitutes premature or early campaigning in today’s digital age.
In a separate development, INEC has officially recognized the new leadership of the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC), led by former Senate President, Senator David Mark, as National Chairman. The commission has listed the new executive members of the party on its website, confirming the resolution of months of leadership tussle within the ADC. The newly recognized National Working Committee of the ADC is led by Mark as National Chairman, while former Osun State governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, serves as National Secretary.
This recognition by INEC brings stability to the party and paves the way for it to participate in future elections. As the 2027 elections approach, it remains to be seen how the ADC will fare under its new leadership.
