INEC’s threats against campaign misconduct

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s warning that abusive, inflammatory and threatening campaign language will attract severe sanctions under the Electoral Act 2026 is timely, but hardly novel. At the beginning of virtually every election season, INEC issues similar warnings to political parties, candidates and their supporters. The recurrence of such vices raises the question: how many of those warned are actually punished when they cross the line? The Electoral Act is unequivocal. Section 96(7) prohibits abusive, intemperate, slanderous or base language, as well as insinuations and innuendoes capable of provoking violent reactions. Campaign messages that injure religio...