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Author: Dr. Izuchukwu Christiantus Anyanwu

Dr Anyanwu is a political scientist, public policy scholar and governance specialist with more than a decade of experience in teaching, research and policy analysis. He has served as Senior Lecturer at Veritas University, Abuja, and Senior Research Fellow at the Athena Centre. He holds a PhD in Public Policy Analysis from the University of Abuja and has authored more than 30 peer-reviewed articles and policy publications on democratic governance, electoral integrity, political accountability and institutional development. As Director, he will lead the Institute's research, policy dialogue and public-sector engagement, beginning with “Making Government Work for Citizens at Every Level.”

Premature Political Campaigning in Nigeria: Aligning Law, Enforcement, and Digital Accountability

Executive Summary
Premature political campaigning is a critical challenge to Nigeria’s electoral integrity. Despite the Electoral Act (2022) prohibiting campaigning before the statutory window, political actors routinely engage in off-window advertising, branded philanthropy, and digital mobilisation well ahead of elections. Existing regulatory instruments, designed for in-person campaigns, leave digital activity, surrogate messaging, and covert interventions largely unmonitored.
INEC’s current enforcement focuses on rallies and physical publicity, allowing governance and campaigning to overlap. Under these circumstances, patronage-driven projects blur public service with political solicitation, while the misuse of public resources erodes accountability.
The 2023 elections illustrate the stakes. Of roughly 93.5 million registered voters, only 26.7 per cent cast ballots. Such a low turnout concentrates influence among smaller, highly mobilisable constituencies. This, in turn, magnifies the impact of early interventions.
Comparative experience from India, the European Union, and the United States shows that effective reform requires legal clarity, digital transparency, and disciplined administrative oversight.
This brief recommends a Campaign Integrity and Transparency Package (CITP). By expanding legal definitions, mandating digital-ad metadata disclosure, and strengthening enforcement, CITP would level the playing field, reduce opaque patronage, and restore public trust—essential steps for democratic consolidation.