INEC Chief Press Secretary, Adedayo Oketola, said campaign statements involving threats, hate speech, coercion or language capable of provoking violence could amount to electoral intimidation.
He cited Section 96 of the Electoral Act, which prohibits rhetoric capable of inflaming religious, ethnic, tribal or sectional sentiments.
Under Section 96(7), convicted candidates risk a maximum fine of ₦5 million or 12 months’ imprisonment, while political parties could be fined ₦10 million for a first offence and ₦2 million for subsequent offences.
Oketola urged security agencies and other stakeholders to take steps to curb inflammatory rhetoric during the political season.
“The Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies have a clear duty to prevent the breakdown of law and order during political campaigns,” he said.
He added, “Political campaigns should be platforms of competing ideas, not theatres of war.”
The warning follows controversial remarks by the Chairman of Gwandu Local Government Area of Kebbi State, Atiku Ahmad Mandiya, who urged APC supporters to have at least one person at every polling unit to “protect” their interests.
Mandiya also said, “Anybody who comes to say anything against Kaura should be dealt with. I will bail the person [who dealt with the governor’s political opponent] out, if arrested.”
In Osun State, APC chieftain Senator Francis Fadahunsi was also captured threatening members of the Accord Party.
“So we are here now to tell you that till the day of the election, if we see any Accord Party members, we’ll kill them. We cannot be watching,” he said.
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