The Independent National Electoral Commission and the Nigeria Police Force have vowed to take action against politicians issuing threats against opponents as activities intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections.
INEC and the police spoke with Sunday PUNCH while responding to enquiries on public concerns about rising inflammatory rhetoric by political actors across the country.
The commission said the Electoral Act empowers it to take action against indicted political parties and their candidates, while the police insisted that incitement is a criminal offence and anybody found culpable would be arrested and prosecuted.
The Executive Secretary of Yiaga Africa, Samson Itodo, and human rights lawyer, Jiti Ogunye, among others, also called on law enforcement agencies to move beyond invitations and warnings and prosecute politicians whose statements violated the law.
Findings by Sunday PUNCH showed that political threats had continued to feature prominently in mobilisation campaigns, with several politicians making statements that critics described as threatening, provocative or capable of inciting violence.
