2019: INEC Cautions Against Early Political Campaigns
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reminded political parties that the commencement of campaigns for the Presidential and National Assembly elections remain November 18th, while...
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reminded political parties that the commencement of campaigns for the Presidential and National Assembly elections remain November 18th, while campaigns for Governorship and State Assemblies are expected to commence on December 1st.
The Commission’s Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yukubu issued the reminder at the Commonwealth Election Professionals (CEP) training workshop for the Commonwealth Africa Region, which began today in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
In an apparent reference to the last day for the conduct of party primaries which was October 7th, Yakubu urged political parties and their candidates to stick to the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2019 General Elections and the provisions of the Electoral Act.
He said: “Let me remind political parties and candidates that the end of primaries does not mean the immediate commencement of campaigns. Section 99 (1) prohibits campaigns by political parties earlier than 90 days before polling day. Therefore, going by the provisions of the Electoral Act and the Timetable and Schedule of Activities issued by the Commission, campaign for Presidential and National Assembly elections will commence on 18th November 2018, while Governorship and State Assembly elections begin on 1st December 2018. I call upon political parties and candidates to strictly adhere to these dates”.
He added: “With the conclusion of primaries by political parties yesterday (7th October), the next activity is the commencement of the process of nomination of candidates to the Commission. May I seize this opportunity to remind political parties that the dates for the submission of list of candidates (Form CF002) and their personal particulars (Forms CF001) for Presidential and National Assembly elections is 10th to 18th October 2018, while Governorship and State Assembly elections is 22nd October to 2nd November 2018.”
“The Commission will receive the submission from political parties at Aso Hall of the International Conference Centre, Abuja, from 9.00am to 4.00pm daily. Although, we have communicated these dates to all political parties, let me reiterate that there will be no extension of time. Similarly, in making submissions to the Commission, the covering letters as well as the list of candidates must be duly signed by the National Chairmen and National Secretaries of political parties in line with the Commission’s Guidelines,” Yakubu said.
Election professionals from 19 Commonwealth African countries are attending the 5-day workshop being organized by the Commonwealth in partnership with INEC to deliberate and share experiences aimed at deepening electoral integrity and democracies in their respective countries.
Declaring the workshop open, Prof. Yakubu, who is also the Chairman, ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions (ECONEC), noted that the workshop’s theme – Strengthening Electoral Democracy in the Commonwealth African Region – was significant, coming in the middle of activities for the 2019 General Elections. His words: “The theme of this workshop is topical and relevant, more so that participants are drawn mainly from middle-level officials who actually conduct elections in the field.”
“This is significant because today, all the countries of the Commonwealth Africa Region are democracies conducting periodic elections. However, we need to further consolidate on the process so that elections are not merely periodic but also peaceful and credible. Bringing election managers together to share experience and build capacities is a critical step to the consolidation of electoral democracy”.
He said the choice of Nigeria as host by the Commonwealth was in recognition of the progressive improvements in the electoral process in the country. He implored the participants to be open to new ideas and critical in the course of their interactions.
“Over the next five days, participants will be taken through five inter-related sub-themes, ranging from the promotion of sustainable electoral democracy, strategic planning, gender and elections, electoral technology to elections and new media. I invite you to be open to new ideas and be critical during the discussions and interactions that follow,” the INEC Chairman said.
“It is through such approach that you can come up with possible solutions to the challenges that we contend with in the Herculean task of managing elections in our region. I wish to remind you that as you progress in your career to become future leaders of Election Management Bodies in your respective jurisdictions, the common goal of advancing democracy through the delivery of credible elections across the Commonwealth Africa region depends on you”.
Welcoming the participants, the Chairman, Local Organizing Committee for the Workshop and INEC National Commissioner, Mr Festus Okoye, also observed that the workshop was coming at an opportune period “when INEC is more or less at the middle of organizing a general election. It is also coming at a period when it will be possible for us to share experience on what is going on in other Commonwealth countries in relation to elections”.
Okoye said: “by sharing experiences, looking at the challenges facing the Electoral Commissions in Commonwealth Africa, we will be in a position to strengthen electoral democracy and advance our various countries. I believe that if election professionals do their work well, if election professionals are knowledgeable, and if election professionals are truly professional, elections in most commonwealth African countries will continue to get better”.
On his part, Head of Electoral Support Section, Commonwealth Secretariat, Mr. Martin Kasirye, expressed hope that the workshop will offer a stimulating blend of opportunities of sharing best practices, practical experience and technical expertise among participating countries. Mr. Kasirye described the quest for electoral democracy as a work in progress, a journey and never a completed task.
He said: “Our hope therefore is that this event will assist your respective electoral management bodies to build capacity to be able to deliver credible elections across the African region that meet the expectations of the citizenry. We all must play a role in deepening our country’s democratic processes and culture”.
The Commonwealth Representative added: “the initiative also hopes to make a contribution to advancing our shared goals of forging stronger links within the family of commonwealth election management bodies and to nurturing a generation of rising of Commonwealth election administrators in their important national role and duties”.
There were goodwill messages from the High Commissioners of the participating countries at the workshop. They include the High Commissioner of Ghana, Rashid Bawa; High Commissioner of Tanzania, Ally Mboweto; High Commissioner of Uganda, Nelson Ocheger; High Commissioner of Kenya, Wlifred G. Machage and the High Commissioner of the Gambia, Amodou Sheikh Omar Taal.
The envoys commended the initiative of the workshop and called for synergy among Election Management Bodies in the Commonwealth African Region. They also called for free, fair, credible and peaceful general elections in Nigeria in 2019.
