INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Board of The Electoral Institute (TEI), Prof. Abdullahi Zuru, made the remarks on Wednesday in Abuja during a stakeholders’ roundtable on “The Challenges of Premature Political Campaigns.”
Zuru noted that many aspirants now disguise early campaigns as acts of philanthropy or public appreciation, using billboards, social media platforms, branded vehicles, and even cultural or religious events to promote themselves ahead of the official campaign period.
“When aspirants or parties compete to dominate visibility long before the official campaign window, it distorts fairness and raises the cost of political competition,” he said. “It also distracts elected officials from governance, erodes public confidence in the electoral process, and fuels cynicism about the rule of law.”
He stressed the need to refine the regulatory framework to clearly define premature campaigning in today’s digital landscape.
Meanwhile, INEC has formally recognised the new leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) following months of internal disputes. The commission confirmed former Senate President David Mark as National Chairman and former Osun State governor Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary of the party’s National Working Committee.
