Ahead of next year’s general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has threatened to deal with political parties, groups and individuals who engage in illegal campaigns.
The warning was issued on September 26 by Secretary of the Commission Mrs Augusta Ogakwu and published in an INEC bulletin that was released yesterday.
According to the INEC scribe, “The Commission shall henceforth take necessary action against such associations, corporate bodies, individuals, political parties, media or such communication agencies, social media, candidates/aspirants who contravene the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (As amended) and/or Electoral Act 2010 (As amended) on public campaign/rally and procession.”
The statement declared that the Commission’s attention had been drawn to the insistent illegal campaigns carried out by various associations, corporate entities, Individuals, public and private media outfits and other communication agencies in the country in contravention of the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (As Amended) and the Electoral Act 2010 (As Amended) on limitation of political broadcasts.
The Commission further stressed that Section 99 of the Electoral Act 2010 (As Amended) prohibited broadcast and political campaign earlier than ninety (90) days before polling day.
According to the statement: “Section 99 (1) of the Electoral Act 2010 (As Amended) reads: ‘For the purpose of this Act, the period of campaigning in public by every political party shall commence 90 days before polling day and end 24 hours prior to that day’.”
The Commission further stated that:
“Relevant Extracts of the Electoral Act 2010 (As Amended) have since been reproduced and circulated by the Com-mission at public places, media outfits, Federal Ministry of Information, National Orientation Agency (NOA), National Communication Commission (NCC) and Head-quarters of Interparty Advisory Council (IPAC), Headquarters of State, FCT, Local Government Area offices of INEC and the Federal Ministry of Environment for their information and proper guidance.”
via nigerianeye
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