Edo, Ondo Elections: INEC Publishes Guidelines for Political Campaigns

Edo, Ondo Elections: INEC Publishes Guidelines for Political Campaigns

Determined to provide a level playing ground to all political parties and candidates in the off-cycle governorship election in Edo and Ondo states later this year, the electoral umpire said all political parties should have unhindered access to public facilities for campaign activities. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) hinted that the full weight of

Determined to provide a level playing ground to all political parties and candidates in the off-cycle governorship election in Edo and Ondo states later this year, the electoral umpire said all political parties should have unhindered access to public facilities for campaign activities.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) hinted that the full weight of the law may fall on public media houses and their officials who fail to work according to the Electoral Act 2022.

In a statement on Friday, Mr Sam Olumekun National Commissioner & Chairman, of the Information and Voter Education Committee said Section 95(2) of the Electoral Act 2022 prohibits the use of State apparatus to “the advantage or disadvantage of any political party or candidate at any election”.

According to him, under Section 95(3-5), public media houses must allot equal coverage and visibility to all parties and candidates.

Specifically, he said Section 95(6) provides sanctions against heads of public media organisations, their principal officers, and other officials for contravention.

Section 95(6) states that A person who contravenes subsection (3) and (4) commits an offence and is liable on conviction in the case of –
(a) a public media, to a fine of
N 2, 000,000 in the first instance and
N 5,000,000 for subsequent conviction; and
(b)principal officers and other officers of the media house, to a fine of
N 1,000,000 or imprisonment for a term of six months.

The electoral body observed that over the years, a recurring problem in Nigeria’s electioneering process has been the use of the power of incumbency to deny opposition parties and candidates access to public facilities for rallies and other campaign activities.

“These include public buildings such as sports stadiums, open spaces in public places, total denial or restricted access to state-owned media (specifically radio and television stations), the imposition of excessive levies and fees for outdoor and media advertising, and even the removal or vandalisation of billboards and posters. These actions often result in violent clashes among party supporters and a breach of public peace”, Mr. Olumekun stressed.

He said the attention of all concerned is drawn to the provisions of the law and the guidelines for strict compliance.

The electoral umpire reiterated that rallies and campaigns must serve as a means of raising awareness by projecting ideas, programmes, policies, or preferences as contained in manifestos, symbols, and flags by the 1999 Federal Republic of Nigeria Constitution (as amended) and the Electoral Act of 2022.

As a result, the commission stated that the campaign can only take place within the 150 days before an election specified for the start of political campaigns and 24 hours before the polling day specified for the end of political campaigns in the Electoral Act of 2022.

Some of the procedures highlighted by the commission include: “ A Political Party shall, for a political rally or procession, issue in writing a notice to the Commissioner of Police of the State or the Federal Capital Territory indicating the exact venue and time of the rally or procession and pledging peaceful conduct and control against violence or public nuisance.

“Political Parties shall transmit to the Commission, through the Electoral Officer at the Local Government Area and the Resident Electoral Commissioner at the State, via a designated portal and also in hard copy, details of the schedule of their political rallies and processions at least 10 days to the date of the political rally or procession. The notice shall be jointly signed by the National Chairman and National Secretary of the Political Party.

“Political Parties shall submit to the Commission, in soft copy through a designated portal and in hard copy, notification of the schedule of their campaigns, stating the date, time, venue, agenda and list of members of the Organising Committee and Police approval within the jurisdiction of the campaigns, within a minimum period not later than 10 days to the commencement of their campaigns. Campaigns by Political Parties and their candidates shall be based on their constitutions and manifestos.

“Where there is conflict in the date, venue, or time of the activities of different political parties, their representatives shall meet in the presence of the Commission and the Nigeria Police to resolve the issues amicably.

“Where the Parties are unable to resolve the conflict amicably or between themselves, the Commission shall request the Political Party that submitted its notice later in time to reschedule its campaign, meeting, rally, procession, congress, convention or other activities for effective monitoring.”

However, INEC also reeled out some of the conduct not permissible during political rallies, including: “No person attending a political rally or procession shall have any offensive weapon, except a police officer or a member of a security agency authorized to carry arms and is specifically posted to be present at that political rally or procession.

“No political rally or procession shall be held in places designated as religious centres, police stations and public institutions. political rallies or processions shall not involve the use of abusive language or any form of hate speech. Political rallies or processions shall not involve the use of physical force or coercion by organised groups or individuals.

The INEC spokesperson said a publication containing the Commission’s guidelines for the conduct of political rallies, processions, and campaigns has already been uploaded to the Commission’s website (www.inecnigeria.org).

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