Political parties hoping to ride religion and ethnicity to victory next year just got a rude shock. The 2026 Electoral Act has drawn a hard red line, and crossing it could drain party coffers overnight.
Campaigns for the Presidential and National Assembly elections kick off tomorrow, but the Independent National Electoral Commission says the playbook has changed. No sermons from the podium. No tribal chants at rallies.
The Big Fines on the Table
Sections 99 and 101 of the 2026 Electoral Act lay out penalties that bite. A political party caught running a campaign built on religion or ethnicity faces up to N50 million fine. Individual candidates are not spared either, they risk up to N3 million.
Media houses are also in the crosshairs. Any broadcaster or newspaper that gives undue advantage or breaks the guidelines could be slammed with up to N5 million.
Section 101 specifically bans campaigns anchored on religious or ethnic identity. Section 99 sets the broader rules of engagement and backs it with the N5 million ceiling for violations.
Equal Airtime, Equal Coverage Rule
The law also wants a level field. Section 99 Subsection 1 says parties must campaign according to rules set by the Commission. Subsection 2 bars state apparatus, including government media, from being used to favor or hurt any candidate.
Subsections 3 to 5 go further. Public electronic media must share airtime equally among parties, at similar hours and during prime time, after payment of fees. Public print media must also give equal coverage and visibility to all contenders.
With campaigns starting tomorrow, parties now have to sell policies, not pulpits, or pay dearly for it.
