The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has warned political parties and politicians against engaging in campaigns in Akwa Ibom State ahead of the 2027 elections before the campaign ban has been lifted.
The Akwa Ibom Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, of INEC, Prof. Anugbum Onuoha, issued this warning at a news conference on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, while revealing that almost all of the state’s political parties will be held responsible for early campaigning.
The REC further stated that any party that continues to run premature campaigns will face legal action under all applicable provisions of the current legislation.
Additionally, he reiterated INEC’s dedication to free, fair, and credible elections in 2027.
“I want to let all Akwa Ibom political parties and their followers know that the campaign restriction has not been removed. In order to maintain a peaceful and orderly voting process, all political players are expected to operate within the terms of the law, and the commission will not allow campaigning that violates the Voting Act,” he stated.
In another reaction, the REC stated that 163,635 PVCs have been collected in the state during the first and second phases of the Continuous Voter Registration, or CVR, exercise, while urging the public to take advantage of the third phase to either register or pick up their PVC.
He pointed out that 76,534 cards were given out in the first phase and 87,101 cards in the second, calling the numbers pitiful given the state’s population and registrant count.
Onuoha stated that the exercise will conclude on July 10 and that the third phase began on May 11 in all 31 local government areas of the state.
While warning against double registration, he encouraged people who registered in 2011 but had their cards vandalised and those who weren’t yet 18 to take advantage of the chance and register.
Additionally, the REC called on all parties involved to work with the commission in order to better serve them and emphasised the commission’s intolerance to any form of electoral malpractice.
