Political Parties Intensify 2027 Mobilisation Despite INEC Campaign Restrictions

Political Parties Intensify 2027 Mobilisation Despite INEC Campaign Restrictions Major political parties have begun grassroots mobilisation and nationwide political engagements ahead of the 2027 general elections despite the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC timetable prohibiting the commencement of official campaigns before the approved date.Investigations indicate that the ruling All Progressives Congress APC and opposition parties, including the African Democratic Congress ADC, National Democratic Congress NDC, Social Democratic Party SDP, Allied Peoples Movement APM, and Peoples Democratic Party PDP, have intensified consultations, stakeholder meetings, community outreach programmes and other activities widely viewed as early campaign efforts. Under the Electoral Act and INEC’s election timetable, presidential and National Assembly campaigns are scheduled to commence on August 19, but political actors have continued to engage supporters through thank-you visits, policy engagements, consultations with traditional rulers and grassroots mobilisation across the country. INEC acknowledged the growing political activities but said it lacks adequate legal powers to compel strict compliance with the campaign timetable. The electoral commission maintained that while the timetable sets out the official campaign period, existing laws do not provide sufficient mechanisms to sanction parties conducting subtle political mobilisation before the approved date. The APC recently inaugurated the national executives of the PBAT Door-to-Door Movement, a nationwide mobilisation initiative designed to promote President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda ahead of the next election cycle. Similarly, the ADC has stepped up consultations involving its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, who has been meeting traditional rulers, political leaders and party stakeholders while addressing supporters in different parts of the country. The Allied Peoples Movement APM has also increased mobilisation around Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, with campaign posters, billboards and branded materials becoming prominent across Ibadan and other parts of Oyo State despite the official campaign window not yet opening. In addition, political leaders in the APC have publicly expressed support for President Tinubu’s re-election strategy ahead of 2027. Political observers and electoral stakeholders warned that prolonged unofficial campaigns undermine the principle of a level playing field by giving financially stronger parties an advantage over smaller political parties. They argued that extended pre-campaign activities could increase election spending beyond statutory limits and weaken public confidence in electoral regulations.

Political economist Pat Utomi criticised INEC’s inability to enforce the rules, describing the commission’s position as evidence of weak institutional accountability. He also alleged that the ruling party was leveraging state institutions in ways that could disadvantage opposition parties ahead of the elections, an allegation the APC has consistently denied. The growing wave of early political mobilisation has renewed concerns over compliance with Nigeria’s electoral laws and the capacity of regulatory institutions to ensure fairness as preparations for the 2027 general elections gather momentum.