INEC Launches Team to Combat Illegal Campaign Spending

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has established a joint financial monitoring mechanism with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) to track illegal campaign spending and vote-buying ahead of the 2027 general elections. INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, announced this initiative during a workshop for media executives in Abuja.

He stated that the mechanism would monitor campaign financing and identify suspicious expenditures, while also enhancing surveillance around polling units to prevent voter inducement. Amupitan warned political parties and candidates that violations of the Electoral Act 2026 would lead to arrest and prosecution.

He emphasized that elections should be determined by voters' convictions rather than financial power. Additionally, he noted that the National Register of Voters has surpassed 103 million, following a successful Continuous Voter Registration exercise that added over 10 million new registrations.