As campaigns for the 2023 elections continue to heat up, many candidates have continued to demonstrate their preference for trading abusive words despite the provisions in the Electoral Act 2022 prescribing various punishments for campaigns of calumny.
The electoral law prohibits certain conduct during political campaigns in Nigeria. However, politicians have constantly disregarded the provisions of sections 92 and 93 of the Act, with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yet to sanction anyone.
Mudslinging as a campaign strategy
Mudslinging has been a constant feature in the campaigns of political candidates as some of them have refused to adhere to the directive of INEC to limit their campaign to issues and not malign one another.
The INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, has severally cautioned political parties and their respective candidates to abstain from violence and divisive tendencies during campaigns leading to the polls.
However, this caution has fallen on deaf ears as candidates of major political parties have been seen launching verbal attacks at each other during campaign speeches.
Related provisions of the Electoral Act
Section 92 of the Act, which covers the prohibition of certain conduct at political campaigns, provides for fines of two million naira, one million naira, N500,000 and jail terms of six months to 12 months for various conducts flouting the law.
‘A political campaign or slogan shall not be tainted with abusive language directly or indirectly likely to injure religious, ethnic, tribal or sectional feelings’, the Act reads
‘Abusive, intemperate, slanderous or base language or insinuations or innuendoes designed or likely to provoke violent reaction or emotions shall not be employed or used in political campaigns’.
According to the Act, any political party, aspirant or candidate that contravenes any of the
provisions of the related section commits an offence and is liable on conviction in the case of an aspirant or candidate to a maximum fine of N1,000,000 or imprisonment for a term of 12 months.
Calls to action
Nigeria is faced with a plethora of challenges ranging from insecurity, economic crisis, high-level unemployment, collapse of institutions, disunity, absence of order in society among others.
Political candidates should learn to speak to the myriads of challenges in the country and provide practical ways they hope to reduce the suffering of the citizens.
INEC should also ensure that it implements the punishment outlined in the Electoral Act 2022 on any candidate or party who has contravened any section of the Act.
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