Political Threats: INEC and Police Finally Vow to Crack Down on Politicians Ahead of 2027
By: Abudu Olalekan
Let’s be honest. The 2027 elections are still a long way off. But if you listen closely, the drums of war are already beating. Politicians are already spitting fire.
It’s gotten so bad that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Nigeria Police Force are finally stepping in. They’ve promised to deal with any politician caught issuing threats against their opponents. Enough is enough, basically.
When chatting with Reportersroom this weekend, both INEC and the police responded to the growing panic across the country. Alot of voters are genuinely worried about the reckless things falling out of politicians’ mouths lately.
The commission said the Electoral Act give them the power to penalize political parties and their candidates. The police backed them up, insisting that incitement is a serious criminal offense. Anyone caught doing it will be locked up.
But civil rights activists and lawyers want more than just tough talk. People like Samson Itodo of Yiaga Africa and human rights lawyer Jiti Ogunye are tired of the endless “invitations” and empty warnings. They want these guys actually prosecuted. Reportersroom found out that violent threats have somehow become the main feature of political rallies these days.
A Trail of Threats and Kerosene
Let’s take a quick trip down a very recent memory lane.
Back in April, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde told opposition politicians not to let anyone force them into the ruling party. He didn’t just stop there. He reminded everyone of the bloody “Operation Wetie” from the First Republic. For those who don’t know, that was a brutal era in the 1960s where political rivals, their homes, and cars were literally soaked in petrol and set on fire. Dark stuff.
Then there’s Buba Galadima. In May, the former NNPP chieftain told a crowd in Abuja to bring “bottles and jerry cans of kerosene” to the polling units in 2027. His exact words? “Either they do what is right, or we all die there. So, there will be no beneficiary.” Yeah. He actually said that.
It doesn’t end there. Governor Ademola Adeleke in Osun state swore his people wouldn’t let the next election be rigged, casually bringing up the infamous 1983 crisis. Meanwhile, Senator Francis Fadahunsi was caught on a viral video handing out literal death threats to Accord Party members.
Down in the FCT, a local council chairman, Samuel Shekwolo, threatened to kick out anyone not supporting the APC. And Borno? The Youth and Sports Commissioner, Sainna Buba, said anybody who refused to back the APC would be flogged. Flogged. Like children.
Oh, and don’t forget Yobe State. APC Chairman Muhammad Gadaka told married women to divorce their husbands if the men stopped them from voting for the party. “If you leave the marriage, I will pay your dowry and marry you,” he bragged to the crowd.
There’s a few things wrong with all this. The series of outbursts have renewed fears that we might see massive violence as 2027 gets closer. Reportersroom previously noted that over 870 people have died in election violence since 2015.
What the Law Says vs. Reality
According to the Electoral Act 2026, all this macho talk is highly illegal. Section 97(1) clearly states you can’t use force or threats to make someone vote a certain way. Section 132 backs it up. You get caught? That’s a N2 million fine or three years in prison.
But let’s be real. Have you ever seen a Nigerian politician do three years for hate speech? Exactly. Because they rarely face consequences, the madness continues.
INEC insists they aren’t playing around anymore. Adedayo Oketola, the media guy for the INEC Chairman, told Reportersroom that campaigns should be a battle of ideas, not actual warzones. He warned that they can and will issue massive fines—up to N10 million for parties and N5 million for candidates.
The police agree. Force PRO Anietie Iniedu said incitement is a straight-up crime. “The moment you are arrested, we will take your statement and charge you to court,” Iniedu warned. Sounds good on paper.
“One Rule for the Elites…”
Civil society groups aren’t holding their breath, though. Samson Itodo is tired of the double standards. He pointed out the obvious: there is two separate justice systems in the country. One for the rich politicians and another for regular folks. When a senator makes a death threat, he gets a polite police invite and a slap on the wrist. When violence breaks out, it’s the voters who suffer.
Dr. Joe Odumakin from the Centre for Change says it all boils down to pure desperation for power. She wants Nigerians to stop accepting this and demand actual issue-based campaigns.
Lawyers like Jiti Ogunye and Victor Opatola completely agree. Ogunye notes that threats have just become a normal tool for politicians to grab power. Opatola points the finger at the political parties themselves. Which is true. Why don’t parties punish their own members? Because it’s bad for business.
Meanwhile, the opposition coalition (CUPP) thinks this whole thing is a deliberate plan to silence them. Peter Ameh, their National Secretary, accused the police of turning a blind eye because they’re too cozy with the ruling party.
The APC, of course, brushed off the accusations. Their National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, swore they don’t do violent campaigns. “We believe in campaigning on the achievements of our party in government at all levels,” he claimed.
Sure thing. But with the way things are heating up already, 2027 is going to be a very bumpy ride.
Olalekan A. Abudu is a seasoned and dedicated News Journalist at REPORTERS ROOM, with over eight years of experience. He specializes in politics, climate change, health, and education, while also covering security, economic, and judicial issues. Committed to accuracy and balanced reporting, Olalekan exemplifies the principles of public-interest journalism.
