ARCON, INEC, security agencies demand strict rules for 2027 political campaigns

Stakeholders in Nigeria’s advertising, electoral and security sectors have called for strict enforcement of political advertising regulations ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning political parties and campaign organisations against hate speech, violence and unlawful campaign materials.

The call was made on Tuesday at the Political Advertising Forum organised by the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), which brought together political parties, regulatory bodies, security agencies, media representatives and other stakeholders to discuss compliance with the laws governing political campaigns.

Speaking at the forum, ARCON Director-General, Dr Olalekan Fadolapo, who also represented the Minister of Information and National Orientation, said the engagement was aimed at ensuring that political advertising activities complied with established rules and regulations.

Fadolapo explained that ARCON was working with other ministries and government agencies to promote responsible political communication and prevent campaigns from becoming a source of violence.

He emphasised that political advertisements must be submitted to the appropriate regulatory authorities for approval before publication.

“All political advertisements must first be submitted to ARCON before posting. Hence, it calls for strict regulations and certain rules,” he said.

The ARCON chief added that stakeholders had a collective responsibility to enforce compliance and ensure that political campaigns remained peaceful.

“We, as part of the stakeholders, are also part of the forum. We must continue to engage stakeholders to ensure that political campaign is not violence and ensure full compliance to the law,” he said.

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Representing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Badejo Babalolo called for cooperation among political parties, regulators, security agencies and other stakeholders to ensure a successful electoral process.

“We need to survive this election and we need support, we don’t need hate speech,” Babalolo said.

He stressed the importance of collective action in addressing challenges that could undermine the credibility and peaceful conduct of the 2027 elections.

Also speaking, Assistant Commandant Segun Adeogun of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), who represented the Commandant, Dayo Keshinro, urged participants to focus on measures that would strengthen election security.

Adeogun noted that security agencies had important responsibilities in maintaining law and order during elections, with the police traditionally taking the lead in election security operations.

“As you know, police have been taking the lead during elections. I will encourage the forum to deliberate on what will make the election a peaceful one,” he said.

Lanre Adisa, Chairman of the Heads of Advertising Sectorial Groups (HASG), also called for stronger regulation and greater compliance as political parties prepare for the next general elections.

“As we approach the 2027 election, regulation must be imposed and encouraged to comply,” Adisa said.

The forum featured a keynote address by Barrister Charles Okedigbo, Director-General of the Centre for Media Law and Development (CMLD), who examined the legal framework governing political advertising and the obligations of campaign organisations and media platforms.

Okedigbo maintained that political advertising was governed by binding legislation and regulatory instruments rather than voluntary guidelines.

He urged political parties, candidates and campaign organisations to submit their advertising materials to the Advertising Standards Panel well ahead of their planned publication dates to allow sufficient time for review and approval.

He also called on media organisations to reject political advertisements that had not received the necessary regulatory clearance.

“The ARCON Act, the Nigerian Code of Advertising, the Electoral Act, and the Nigeria Broadcasting Code are not aspirational documents. They are binding instruments,” Okedigbo said.

Okedigbo urged stakeholders to address disagreements through established regulatory channels rather than disregard the law, warning that compliance was essential to responsible political communication.

The forum comes as political activities gradually intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections, with regulators and other stakeholders seeking to establish safeguards against inflammatory campaign messages and promote a peaceful electoral environment.

The discussions highlighted the need for political parties, advertisers, broadcasters and digital media platforms to understand their legal obligations and ensure that campaign materials meet applicable standards before publication.