This is a complete guide for the 2027 General Election in Nigeria based on the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Electoral Act 2022, and the latest INEC Regulations and Guidelines.
WHAT IS A POLITICAL CAMPAIGN FOR VOTES?
In Nigerian electoral law, a political campaign is any organized activity by a political party, candidate, association, or individual that canvasses for votes, promotes a candidate or party, or solicits support for election.
According to experts cited by INEC, this includes:
Public rallies, processions, meetings
Posters, billboards, branded vehicles, t-shirts, caps
Media jingles, adverts on TV, Radio, newspapers
Social media promotion, sponsored posts, influencers
Canvassing door-to-door asking people to vote for a candidate
Section 221 of the Constitution is very clear: No association, other than a political party, shall canvass for votes for any candidate at any election or contribute to funds of any political party.
Only INEC -registered political parties can campaign.
INEC OFFICIAL GUIDE FOR 2027 ELECTION
The current rules from the Electoral Act 2022 still apply until the 2026 amendment is fully passed:
Campaign Period:
Section 94(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 stipulates that the period of campaigning in public by political parties for an election shall begin 150 days before polling day and end 24 hours prior to that day.
For 2027, based on the draft timetable released:
Presidential and National Assembly Election: February 20, 2027
Governorship and State Assembly Campaigns: Start Oct 7, 2026 and end March 4, 2027
Any campaign outside this window is a violation and INEC says it will take necessary action.
Early campaigns also distort tracking of campaign finance.
Campaign Finance Limits – Electoral Act 2022 Section 88-92:
Presidential candidate: Maximum N5 billion
Governorship: N1 billion
Individual donation to a candidate: Maximum N50 million (proposed increase to N500 million in new drafts)
All candidates must submit audited returns of campaign expenses to INEC within 6 months after election
Section 225(2) of the Constitution requires parties to disclose sources of funds and manner of expenditures
No party shall hold funds from outside Nigeria – Section 225(3)(a)(b)
INEC Revised 2026 Guidelines for Political Parties:
INEC unveiled new 2026 Regulations and Guidelines ahead of 2027, covering party registration, primaries, campaign conduct, finances and deregistration.
The framework says parties must submit digital membership registers and follow internal democracy rules.
STANDARD CAMPAIGNS ALLOWED BY INEC
This is what INEC calls a Standard / Issue-Based Campaign as stipulated in its document “Conduct of Political Rallies, Processions and Campaigns
Manifesto Marketing:
Explaining your party’s plans for economy, security, education, health.
Peaceful Rallies and Processions: With police permit, no arms. Only security officers posted to the rally can carry arms.
Equal Access:
All parties must be given equal and unimpeded access to public facilities for media, outdoor advertising, and campaigns.
Media Engagement:
Debates, interviews, jingles in any language, as long as it is not abusive.
Door-to-door canvassing during the official campaign window.
NEGATIVITIES / PROHIBITED CAMPAIGNS – What INEC and the Law Forbid
Abusive Language and Hate Speech:
Section 92 and 93 of Electoral Act: Use of abusive language, physical attacks on opponents during rallies, or destruction of campaign materials is prohibited.
A political message must not be tainted with abusive language likely to injure religious, ethnic, tribal or sectional feelings.
Campaign in Prohibited Places:
No political campaign shall hold in places designated as religious centres, police stations, and public offices.
Use of State Power and Violence
Carrying offensive weapons or missiles at rallies, using thugs, intimidation of voters.
Early Campaign:
Campaigning earlier than 150 days before polling day violates Section 94(1).
Sanction is up to N500,000 on conviction under Section 94(2) and (3).
Vote Buying and Foreign Funding:
Contravening Section 225 of Constitution on foreign funds and Section 221 on third-party sponsors like TAN-style groups.
Use of Cultural Festivals, Religious Gatherings and Philanthropy as Cover
INEC National Commissioner Abdullahi Zuru warned that using festivals and philanthropy as camouflage for veiled campaign messages inflates cost of elections.
CONSTITUTIONAL FOUNDATION
Section 221: Only political parties can canvass for votes.
Section 222: No association shall function as a party unless its names, addresses, constitution are registered with INEC and membership is open to all Nigerians.
Section 225: Parties must declare assets, sources of funds.
Section 227: Prohibits political parties from retaining or using armed quasi-military organizations.
Summary for 2027 Voters and Politicians
For 2027, a good campaign is: Issue-based, peaceful, within the 150-day window, properly funded with declared money, and open to all Nigerians.
A bad/negative campaign is: Early, hateful, tribal, violent, done in churches/mosques, sponsored by non-party groups, funded with foreign or undeclared money, or involves vote-buying and destruction of opponent’s materials.
– Benjamin Ibrahim writes from Lokoja, Kogi state.
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