Nigeria’s electoral and security authorities have drawn a line in the sand over a surge of threats, intimidation and inflammatory rhetoric as political activity gathers pace ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Independent National Electoral Commission and the Nigeria Police Force have warned politicians that threats against opponents, voters or electoral officials will not be tolerated.
INEC said the Electoral Act 2026 gives it powers to act against political parties and candidates that breach campaign rules.
The police went further, declaring incitement a criminal offence and warning that those found culpable would be arrested, investigated and prosecuted.
But civil society organisations and lawyers say warnings are no longer enough.
They want politicians accused of crossing the legal line prosecuted—not merely invited for questioning and released.
POLITICAL TEMPERATURE RISING
Across the country, political rhetoric has become increasingly heated, with several public officials and political actors making statements critics say could fuel fear, intimidation or violence.
In Oyo State, Governor Seyi Makinde on April 25 warned opposition politicians against being forced into the ruling party.
Speaking at an opposition leaders’ meeting in Ibadan, Makinde invoked the bloody political crisis of the First Republic.
“Operation Wetie started from here. This is the same Wild Wild West,” he warned.
Operation Wetie was the name associated with the violent political unrest that engulfed Nigeria’s Western Region in the 1960s, including attacks in which opponents, homes and vehicles were set ablaze.
Days later, former New Nigeria Peoples Party Board of Trustees Secretary Buba Galadima made another explosive statement.
At a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja on May 2, he urged Nigerians to go to polling units with “bottles and jerry cans of kerosene.”
He said voters should be prepared to resist wrongdoing at the polls, declaring that there would be “no beneficiary” if things went wrong.
OSUN WILL NOT AGREE’
On August 3, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke warned that the people of the state would not accept a rigged governorship election.
He referred to the disputed political history of 1983 and insisted that Osun wanted a free and fair election.
The political temperature rose further after Senator Francis Fadahunsi, representing Osun East, was seen in a viral video allegedly threatening members of the Accord Party in Ilesa.
In the Federal Capital Territory, Kuje Area Council Chairman Samuel Shekwolo was reportedly accused of threatening that non-APC supporters should leave the council area.
In Borno State, Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development Sainna Buba reportedly threatened that people who refused to support the APC in 2027 would be flogged.
And in Ebonyi State, newly sworn-in Ohaukwu Local Government Chairman Eze Ituma warned opposition parties and their supporters against conducting political activities in the council.
He reportedly said those whose political activities conflicted with his interests could be declared persona non grata.
‘DIVORCE YOUR HUSBAND’
In Yobe State, APC Chairman Muhammad Gadaka triggered another controversy at a campaign rally in Nangere.
He reportedly told married women whose husbands prevented them from voting for the APC to leave their marriages.
He also said he would pay the dowry of any woman who did so and marry her.
The remarks have added to growing fears that aggressive political mobilisation could spiral into intimidation and violence as the 2027 elections approach.
LAW SAYS: NO THREATS
The Electoral Act 2026 expressly prohibits threats and violence during political campaigns.
Section 97(1) prohibits parties, candidates, aspirants and other persons from directly or indirectly threatening others with force or violence to compel them to support—or refuse to support—a political party or candidate.
Section 132 also criminalises the use or threat of force, violence or restraint to influence voting.
A person convicted under the provision faces a fine of up to N2m or imprisonment for three years.
INEC said political rhetoric becomes intimidation when it involves direct or indirect threats of force or violence against voters, candidates or electoral officials.
That could include threats of physical harm, economic punishment or social exclusion designed to frighten people into supporting—or abandoning—a candidate.
The commission warned that campaigns must not create an atmosphere of fear capable of suppressing voter participation.
INEC Media Adviser Adedayo Oketola said the commission had powers to monitor campaigns and enforce compliance with the Code of Conduct for Political Parties.
He described campaigns as “platforms of competing ideas, not theatres of war.”
He said the commission could issue formal queries and sanction parties within its administrative powers.
Under Section 96(7), a candidate convicted of specified campaign offences can face a maximum fine of N5m or 12 months’ imprisonment, while a political party can face a N10m fine for a first offence and N2m for subsequent offences.
POLICE: WE WILL NOT SPARE THEM
The police have also promised a tougher response.
Force Public Relations Officer Anietie Iniedu said incitement was a criminal offence and warned politicians against heating up the political environment.
He said the police were preparing public enlightenment campaigns and communication strategies across their commands ahead of the elections.
“Incitement is a criminal offence and we will not spare anyone trying to heat up the politics with inciteful comments,” he said.
According to him, suspects arrested over inflammatory statements would be investigated and charged to court where appropriate.
“The moment you are arrested, we will take your statement and charge you to court,” he said.
‘STOP INVITING—PROSECUTE’
Yiaga Africa Executive Secretary Samson Itodo said security agencies must move beyond warnings and invitations.
He called for the arrest and prosecution of politicians whose statements threaten public safety or the electoral process.
Itodo also accused security agencies of appearing to operate different standards for political elites and ordinary citizens.
“It is as if there are two separate justice systems in the country: one for the elites and the other for the masses,” he said.
He cited the case involving Senator Fadahunsi, saying the lawmaker was invited by police and warned, while the public had not been given sufficient information about action taken against other politicians accused of inflammatory remarks.
For Itodo, the stakes are bigger than political rhetoric.
A climate of fear, he warned, could trigger pre-election violence, suppress turnout and prevent citizens from freely choosing their leaders.
LAWYERS DEMAND ACTION
Human rights lawyer Jiti Ogunye said politicians should persuade voters—not threaten them.
He argued that threats constitute offences under the Electoral Act and criminal laws and should attract appropriate sanctions.
He urged the police to prevent offences, investigate suspects and prosecute those found culpable.
Constitutional lawyer Victor Opatola said political parties also had a responsibility to discipline members who make inflammatory statements.
He warned that failure by both parties and law enforcement agencies to impose consequences was helping threatening rhetoric spread.
He also raised concerns about the neutrality of security agencies during elections, saying citizens may ultimately have to turn to the courts when authorities fail to act.
CSOs WARN OF PRE-ELECTION VIOLENCE
Centre for Change President Joe Odumakin blamed the escalation on desperation for power, political intolerance, weak accountability and the exploitation of ethnic and religious sentiments.
She urged politicians to stop treating opponents as enemies.
The 2027 contest, she said, should be about ideas, policies and leadership—not threats and violence.
She also called on civil society organisations, the media, religious leaders and traditional institutions to promote political tolerance.
OPPOSITION ALLEGES SUPPRESSION
The Coalition of United Political Parties described the situation as part of what it called a “state-capturing agenda.”
CUPP National Secretary Peter Ameh alleged that political threats were being used to intimidate opposition voices and weaken political pluralism.
He accused the police of failing to act decisively against political actors making inflammatory statements.
He insisted that the police must protect all political parties and citizens, regardless of political affiliation.
APC: WE DON’T ENCOURAGE VIOLENCE
The ruling All Progressives Congress rejected allegations that it promotes political violence or inflammatory campaigning.
APC National Secretary Ajibola Basiru said the party did not engage in or encourage violent campaigns.
He said the party preferred to campaign on its record in government.
Basiru also condemned attempts to exploit religious or ethnic identities for political purposes.
With 2027 approaching, however, pressure is mounting on political parties, INEC and security agencies to ensure that fiery campaign rhetoric does not turn into intimidation—or violence at the ballot box.
INEC, Police Move Against Politicians Over Threats, Intimidation
