FRONT PAGE EDITORIAL: Abusive Campaigns: INEC Should Call Ekwunife, Soludo, Others to Order
EDITORIAL
By Tony Okafor
As Anambra State inches toward the November 8 governorship election, the tone of political discourse is becoming dangerously toxic.
Instead of debating policies and ideas, the camps of Senator Uche Ekwunife and Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo have descended into name-calling, insults, and smear campaigns—much of it playing out on social media.
Left unchecked, these abuses could inflame passions, provoke hostility, and create conditions for violence before or after the polls. An election should be a democratic contest, not a rehearsal for chaos.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) cannot fold its arms while this is happening. As the nation’s electoral umpire, it carries both a legal and moral duty to safeguard not just the credibility of the ballot, but also the civility of the campaign.
Section 92 of the Electoral Act, 2022 prohibits the use of abusive, slanderous, or inflammatory language likely to incite violence or strong emotional reactions. The penalty for violations includes fines, imprisonment, or sanctions against political parties.
Beyond the Electoral Act 2022, the 1999 Constitution, Section 15, enshrines Nigeria’s political objective of fostering integration and forbids any conduct that deepens division or hostility. In other words, abusive campaigns are not only unlawful, they are unconstitutional.
That is why INEC must act—firmly and without fear or favour.
The Commission has the authority to issue warnings, impose fines, suspend campaign privileges, and, where necessary, disqualify recalcitrant candidates. It must use these powers decisively. To do otherwise would be to abdicate its responsibility and invite anarchy.
Anambra people deserve a campaign season of dignity, respect, and genuine debate about the future of their state.They do not deserve a war of words that could spill into violence.
INEC must rise to the moment and call candidates and their supporters to order. Anything less would not just be a failure of duty—it would be complicity.
