INEC faces backlash as 2027 campaign posters emerge nationwide despite electoral ban

Political observers and stakeholders have aired their views on the failure of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to control the activities of political parties in the country.

There is the belief that laws and regulations are hardly followed, with institutions in the country showing weakness or turning the other way when they are to enforce the laws.

INEC’s approach in managing the excesses of these political parties, especially the ruling party, has been widely condemned.

In a recent roundtable organised by the electoral umpire to discuss ways and possible solutions to these challenges, especially that of premature election campaigns in the country, it became clearer to the electorate that INEC has limited powers in handling some of these issues.

The ruling party has been the biggest offender on the prevailing issue, and this was made manifest after Abuja residents woke up to see gigantic billboards all over the city featuring President Bola Tinubu holding his wife, Remi, with a clear message: “Grassroots Support for Tinubu 2027.

It was the announcement of the President’s second term three years before the next election.

However, the argument is that the President, or any other aspirant, may not have initiated their campaigns themselves; it could have easily come from third parties doing so without clearance from the aspirants to gain recognition or favours whatsoever.

There also lies the possibility of the aspirants’ political opponents launching premature campaigns to make the aspirant appear to be in breach of the rules and regulations.

Meanwhile, another question has been the failure on the part of advertisement regulatory agencies to ask the necessary questions before approving such billboards or to immediately pull them down if they were not approved.

SOCIETY WATCH can report that other billboards reading “Tinubu Continuity 2027,” often alongside Governor Umar Namadi, among others, were mounted on major roads and public places across the country.

Apart from this, social media, especially Facebook, X, TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, has been busy with all sorts of campaigns such as songs, skits, and hashtags that project particular aspirants.