The Athena Election Observatory has raised concerns over what it described as a shrinking democratic space in Nigeria, warning that recent actions by public institutions, including the freezing of an Osun State Government account by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and controversial campaign advertising fees introduced by some state governments, could erode public confidence in the country’s electoral process.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the election monitoring organisation said that while public institutions must continue to discharge their statutory responsibilities, the exercise of state authority during election periods should be guided by safeguards that protect political participation, institutional neutrality and public trust.
The group’s warning follows the EFCC’s restriction of access to an Osun State Government account on August 5 as part of an investigation into alleged diversion of public funds, barely 10 days before the August 15 governorship election in the state.
The Osun State Government has denied the allegations.
President Bola Tinubu subsequently directed the anti-graft agency to take steps to reverse the restriction while reiterating that the EFCC remains an independent institution.
Athena described the President’s intervention as an important corrective measure but argued that the incident highlighted a broader institutional challenge regarding the timing and potential electoral implications of enforcement actions.
According to the organisation, anti-corruption investigations should not be suspended because elections are approaching, as public institutions have a constitutional duty to safeguard public resources. However, it stressed that actions capable of influencing the electoral environment require greater transparency, proportionality and safeguards against unintended political consequences.
“Legal authority should be accompanied by necessity, proportionality, transparency and safeguards against avoidable electoral disruption,” the Observatory stated.
Beyond the Osun development, Athena also criticised campaign advertising permit fees recently announced by the governments of Abia and Anambra states, warning that the charges could create financial barriers that undermine political competition.
According to the organisation, the Abia State signage agency has introduced campaign advertising permit fees of ₦200 million for presidential candidates, ₦150 million for governorship candidates, ₦100 million for senatorial candidates, ₦50 million for House of Representatives candidates and ₦20 million for State House of Assembly candidates.
Similarly, Anambra State has announced permit fees of ₦50 million for presidential candidates, ₦20 million for senatorial candidates, ₦5 million for House of Representatives candidates and ₦1.5 million for State House of Assembly candidates.
The regulations reportedly extend beyond conventional outdoor advertising to include campaign materials, branded items, public address systems, political rallies and other campaign-related activities.
While acknowledging the constitutional authority of state governments to regulate outdoor advertising, environmental standards and the use of public spaces, Athena cautioned that such regulatory powers should not become indirect obstacles to electoral participation.
The organisation noted that the fees, particularly those introduced in Abia State, consume a significant proportion of candidates’ legally permissible campaign expenditure under the Electoral Act 2026.
It observed that a ₦20 million advertising permit for a State House of Assembly candidate represents one-fifth of the statutory campaign spending limit of ₦100 million, leaving considerably fewer resources for legitimate campaign activities such as mobilisation, logistics, publicity and voter engagement.
Athena warned that the policy could disproportionately disadvantage smaller political parties and less affluent candidates while reinforcing the influence of money in the political process.
“Campaign expenditure limits are intended to restrain the influence of money and promote fair competition,” the group stated, adding that administrative fees that consume a substantial share of those limits undermine the objectives of electoral reforms.
The Observatory maintained that Nigeria’s democratic system is founded on transparent and uniform electoral rules rather than additional conditions imposed through administrative regulations.
It therefore called on the governments of Abia and Anambra states to withdraw candidate-specific campaign advertising charges and instead apply content-neutral advertising regulations that are uniformly applicable to all users of public spaces.
Athena also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue national guidelines clarifying that state and local regulatory authorities cannot impose additional conditions for participation in elections conducted under the Constitution and the Electoral Act.
The organisation emphasised that its intervention was not intended to support or oppose any political party, candidate or government but to safeguard the integrity of Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
“Accountability, regulation and democratic competition should reinforce one another,” the statement said. “Administrative power must not shrink democratic space.”
The warning comes as political activities gather momentum ahead of a new cycle of elections, with civil society organisations increasingly calling on government institutions to ensure that enforcement actions and regulatory decisions strengthen, rather than undermine, public confidence in the credibility and fairness of Nigeria’s electoral process.
