INEC Vows to Prosecute Election Violence and Audit Registers

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has issued a stern warning to political parties and candidates against using violence, hate speech, and vote-buying ahead of the 2027 general elections. During a workshop in Abuja, INEC Chairman Professor Joash Amupitan stated that the commission will pursue arrests and prosecutions for those inciting violence or deploying armed thugs, citing a specific instance of a candidate in Kano State campaigning with a firearm.

To prevent electoral malpractice, INEC activated an early-warning tracking framework through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security. The commission is also collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Justice and financial crime agencies to crack down on money politics.

Simultaneously, the House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters is pressing INEC to disqualify candidates whose names do not appear in their party membership registers. This demand follows a September 24, 2026, Supreme Court ruling that restored key sections of the Electoral Act 2026. Committee Chairman Bayo Balogun argued that auditing these registers is necessary to ensure only eligible members participate in primaries and to reduce the volume of litigation following the elections.