The controversies around early campaigns have once again gained attention after a recent video surfaced and reports circulated indicating that President Bola Tinubu allegedly presented Toyota Land Cruisers, Hilux trucks, and Hummer buses to coordinators of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors ahead of the 2027 general elections.
This move unsettled opposition parties and politicians, including the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and the African Democratic Congress (ADC), bringing the issue of early campaigns back into public debate and highlighting INEC’s failure to sanction politicians who openly flouted the law.
ADC, Obi Demand Governance Focus
In response, the ADC urged the President to return to governance or “step aside and admit that his political ambition now stands in the way of Nigeria’s recovery.”
ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, criticized the move as insensitive at a time when Nigeria remains under a state of emergency due to worsening insecurity.
Abdullahi argued that the President’s security declaration was “nothing more than a media stunt,” insisting that the administration has failed to implement meaningful public safety measures.
“While ordinary Nigerians are being kidnapped, displaced, and killed, the President is distributing branded vehicles and building a partisan structure,” he said.
Peter Obi also condemned the move, describing it as “profound insensitivity” and emphasising that governance should focus on alleviating citizens’ hardships, not showcasing political strength through luxury vehicles.
The President’s Media Centre fired back, dismissing claims that President Tinubu distributed those vehicle ahead of the 2027 elections.
They stressed that the vehicles belong to the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, an independent support group with no ties to the Presidency, which has been running empowerment programmes before now. The group further accused opposition parties of spreading misinformation to mislead the public.
INEC’s Legal Limitation on Early Campaigns
In the wake of public outrage over early campaigns and calls for sanctioning erring politicians in September, the former INEC Boss, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, made a shocking announcement. He outrightly admitted that INEC cannot sanction politicians and political parties engaging in premature campaigns because it lacks the legal powers to do so.
Yakubu said that although Section 94(1) bans early campaigning, the law does not prescribe any penalty for breaches committed more than 150 days before polling day.
He added that the only sanction in the law is under Section 94(2), which applies to campaign activities within 24 hours of polling day, attracting a fine of up to ₦500,000. The law, however, is silent on earlier campaigning offences.
According to INEC, these early acts, such as rallies, outdoor advertising, media adverts, billboards, and “supporter group” campaigns, undermine the Commission’s ability to track campaign financing, enforce fairness, and maintain the integrity of the electoral process.
Some politicians have long identified this loophole and have used it diligently to their advantage.
Amupitan Promises Reform and Independence
The arrival of the new INEC Boss gave hope to some Nigerians, as Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, promised to address some of the issues his predecessor failed to tackle.
He insisted that the integrity of elections under his leadership is non-negotiable.
Joash Amupitan told Senators that if confirmed for the position, he would explore the Constitution to make the electoral umpire truly independent.
READ ALSO: Just In: Court Bars INEC From Recognizing Outcome of Upcoming PDP Convention
He also pledged to build a people-focused, technology-driven electoral system that leaves “no voter behind” and said the Commission would even deploy drones where necessary to reach remote areas during elections.
Because the Anambra election was his first as INEC Chairman, many were watching closely to see whether he could deliver what he promised, “a credible, transparent poll” that would break from some of the controversies that followed previous elections under the former leadership.
Amid allegations of vote-buying, low voter turnout, and result manipulation, Prof. Amupitan told a different story.
During his first test, the Anambra governorship election, INEC recorded significant gains: PVC collection rose to 98.8%, roughly 24,000 personnel were deployed, over 6,800 BVAS devices were used, and real-time result uploads were conducted via IReV, covering all polling areas, including riverine communities.
Early Campaigns Remain a Concern
Despite these successes and the series of electoral reforms promised, issues surrounding pre-election campaigns gained little attention.
After his predecessor, Yakubu, retired, calls for sanctioning politicians engaging in pre-election campaigns also faded, as public attention shifted to who would succeed Yakubu and what the new INEC had to offer.
READ ALSO: New INEC Chairman Vows to End Pre-election Litigations
However, the recent reports of alleged distribution of Toyota Land Cruisers, Hilux trucks, and Hummer buses branded with President Tinubu’s image and his 2027 election ambitions, boldly stating his “Renewed Hope” slogan, allegedly meant for coordinators of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors.
Early 2027 Campaign Billboards for Tinubu Emerge in Abuja
Campaign posters and billboards promoting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 re-election have appeared across Abuja, even as INEC has yet to release an election timetable or lift the ban on political campaigns.
The billboards, placed at key locations, feature Tinubu with re-election messages.
Reports indicate that some billboards were sponsored by the Grassroots Mobilisation Group, active during the 2023 elections, while others were backed by Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo (Tompolo), calling for mass mobilisation along routes such as Airport Road.
What Politicians and political Analysts are saying
APC chieftain Hon. Faruk Adamu Aliyu told Pinnacle Daily that while early campaigns are a distraction, President Tinubu had no personal involvement in the posters and rallies, which he described as the work of “political busybodies seeking relevance.”
He called on INEC to enforce rules and sanction politicians engaging in premature campaigning.
He further stressed that “As a government, we are balancing governance with politics. When the opposition stops, we will stop; until then, we cannot remain silent while others are in the field.”
Mazi Nnamdi Dickson-Iroegbu, PDP member from Ahiato Ward, argued that the presidency is the main driver of early campaign billboards, setting a poor example and fueling lawlessness.
According to him, while many claim that politicians across the board are guilty, the real driver of early campaign billboards is the presidency itself.
“Why are we looking away from the culprit here? The culprit is the president. Who else do you see the billboards for out there? Is there any other politician whose billboards you are seeing for 2027? We cannot lie to ourselves and expect any positive outcome from it. The president is not leading by example. If he says, ‘Oh, it’s the people that are doing it,’ can those people be called to order? Their images are beside his billboards,” he said.
He noted that if it were opposition billboards across the country, agencies like the DSS would have clamped down instantly.
A Political Analyst and founder of Rural Advocacy for Community Voices, Abdulwahab Ekehinde, told Pinnacle Daily that the absence of sanctions encourages politicians to disregard timelines, overstretch resources, and divert public funds from governance.
He warned that early mobilization shifts focus away from development and governance.
“Governance suffers once incumbents shift their focus to retaining power. Nobody campaigns with what you did; they only campaign with what you failed to do,” Ekehinde said.
He also noted that the electorate’s preoccupation with money and sensationalism hampers the quality of governance.
Communications Perspective: The Strategic Advantage
Communications strategist Abubakar Abdullahi offered a different view. He told Pinnacle Daily that early campaigns, when executed strategically, allow politicians to frame narratives, reinforce visibility, and shape public perception.
The advantage lies in consistency,” Abdullahi said. “Even a falsehood repeated enough times can sound like truth. Candidates who enter the conversation early are more likely to dominate the space and stay top-of-mind for voters.”
He emphasized that while early campaigns may attract criticism and strain resources, he argued that the benefits outweigh the risks, helping build familiarity and reinforce messaging.
To address these challenges, experts in this report recommend legal reforms empowering INEC to sanction premature campaigning, stricter enforcement of campaign finance tracking, and public education to discourage the electorate from being swayed by partisan displays.
Strengthening these mechanisms, they argue, will ensure elections are competitive, transparent, and focused on governance rather than spectacle.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.
