The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been urged by former federal lawmaker Dachung Bagos to demonstrate its impartiality by punishing President Bola Tinubu and his followers for putting up “Vote Tinubu 2027” billboards well in advance of the start of the official campaign period.
During his Thursday appearance on AIT Focus, he disclosed this.
The advertisements blatantly contravene Section 94 of the Electoral Act, 2022, which prohibits campaign messages that specifically solicit votes outside of the authorized window, according to the former member representing the Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency.
“Any early discussions in campaign posters that talk about ‘vote for’ are the only things that the law talks about,” Bagos stated, adding that the law prohibits the use of the phrase.
This explains why the president’s flag and poster were placed in Abuja today sans the words “vote for.” It’s up to you to figure out what 2027 is talking about because they simply put theirs in.
He claimed that one of the billboards, which showed the president and his spouse with the slogan “Vote Tinubu 2027,” was illegal.
In Section 94, it is illegal to use the phrase “vote.” “INEC is supposed to have sanctioned this individual, regardless of who it is—the candidate or the party that submits that,” he stated.
“INEC is supposed to warn and sanction the president if it is the president and there is no party logo due to the vote alone.”
Bagos urged the electoral body to take decisive action, stating that if it doesn’t, INEC may come off as prejudiced in the run-up to the 2027 elections.
