The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has warned political parties and candidates in Oyo State against the use of hate speech, ethnic, religious and inflammatory language ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Professor Adeniran Rahmon Tella, gave the warning on Thursday during a stakeholders’ meeting at the INEC Collation Centre in Ibadan.
Tella said political campaigns must be issue-based rather than centred on personality, ethnicity or religion, stressing that INEC would monitor campaign activities and enforce compliance with the Code of Conduct for Political Parties.
He said Section 96 of the Electoral Act 2026 prohibits campaign language capable of harming religious, ethnic, tribal or sectional sentiments or provoking violence.
According to him, convicted candidates could face fines of up to ₦5 million or 12 months’ imprisonment, while political parties could face a ₦10 million fine for a first offence.
The REC also disclosed that INEC had directed political parties to submit detailed schedules of their campaign activities, including the venues and dates of rallies and meetings, to the Commission for monitoring.
He reminded stakeholders that the Presidential and National Assembly elections would hold on January 16, 2027, while the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections are scheduled for February 6, 2027.
Tella further disclosed that INEC had published the final list of candidates for the Presidential and National Assembly elections on September 12, 2026, with 18 political parties fielding candidates for the presidency.
He said the Commission had also published the particulars of candidates for the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections on Form EC9, while the final list of state-level candidates would be published on October 10.
The Oyo REC stressed that political parties, rather than INEC, are responsible for nominating their candidates, adding that the Commission has no legal authority to select, insert or substitute candidates for political parties.
He also announced that INEC had commenced the recruitment of ad hoc staff to be deployed across the state’s 6,319 polling units.
According to him, the recruitment portal opened on September 18 and would remain accessible until midnight on November 18, 2026.
Tella said the Commission had also commenced the posting and transfer of some key personnel, including Heads of Department and Electoral Officers, as part of measures to prevent local familiarity or compromise that could affect the integrity of the elections.
He assured stakeholders of the Commission’s neutrality and called for cooperation from political parties, security agencies, civil society organisations, the media and other stakeholders.
The REC urged all parties, candidates and supporters to shun violence, vote-buying, intimidation, harassment, misinformation, disinformation and other electoral malpractices.
He also called for priority to be given on election day to persons living with disabilities, albinos, the elderly and pregnant women.
