The Independent National Electoral Commission has warned politicians, political party agents and its officials against interfering with the integrity of votes during the 2027 general elections, stressing that offenders could face imprisonment and fines.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Plateau State, Prof. Samuel Egwu, issued the warning on Tuesday in Jos at a stakeholders’ meeting involving political party leaders and candidates.
Egwu described the meeting as an important part of preparations for the elections, noting that political parties and their candidates had major responsibilities in ensuring a credible electoral process.
He said the engagement was organised to provide stakeholders with relevant electoral information and remind them of their obligations under the law.
“This is the most important meeting I will be having with stakeholders, the parties and their candidates. You are the key game-changers in the ongoing campaigns and in the elections we are going to conduct in two phases: the Presidential and National Assembly elections on the 16th of January, and the Governorship and State Assembly elections in February,” he said.
The Plateau REC warned that electoral offences, especially actions capable of compromising the integrity of votes, would attract legal consequences.
“As I sit here with my Heads of Department and Electoral Officers, I have told them that there are provisions in the law, if they breach them, particularly if they tamper with the integrity of the vote, they will go to jail. It is the same with anyone else who would want to tamper with the integrity of votes,” he said.
Egwu also raised concerns about excessive spending during elections. While acknowledging that money was necessary to run election campaigns, he warned that excessive use of financial resources could undermine the credibility of the process.
“Money is very important in the electoral process. In fact, without money, you cannot contest an election. But when you deploy too much money, then it becomes a problem,” he added.
The REC expressed disappointment over the low turnout of political stakeholders at the meeting, saying INEC would examine its approach to issuing invitations in order to improve participation at future engagements.
Also speaking, the Plateau State Commissioner of Police, CP Faniyan Ayodeji, represented by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, Nengi Jephtha, stressed the importance of adequate information and compliance with electoral regulations in preventing violence.
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“My first point is on the importance of information. When participants in an election are properly informed and abide by that information, it helps to mitigate violence and conflict,” he said.
Ayodeji also criticised the poor representation of political parties at the meeting, particularly those fielding candidates in the forthcoming elections.
He urged party leaders and candidates to attach greater importance to stakeholders’ meetings and participate actively in discussions concerning electoral preparations.
The police commissioner assured residents that the Nigeria Police Force remained committed to facilitating peaceful and credible elections, but noted that adherence to electoral rules by political actors would significantly ease the responsibility of security agencies.
“As the Nigeria Police Force, our job is made easier when political players play by the rules. The moment they agree to do what is expected of them, the work of the police is greatly reduced.
“Therefore, I appeal that whatever is discussed and whatever guidelines are given, politicians should abide by those regulations so that at the end of the day, we will have a credible and violence-free election,” he said.