2015: INEC to Clamp Down on Early Campaigners

2015: INEC to Clamp Down on Early Campaigners

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday warned that it would henceforth take the necessary action against associations, corporate bodies, individuals, political parties, media or communication agencies, social media, candidates/aspirants who contravene the provisions of the 1999 Constitution and/or Electoral Act 2010 on public campaigns/rallies and processions.
In a statement titled, “Caution On Illegal Public Political Broadcast And Campaign” and addressed to all the national chairmen of registered political parties, corporate entities, associations and the general public, the commission said its attention had been drawn to the insistent illegal campaigns carried out by associations, corporate entities, individuals, public and private media and other communication agencies in the country in contravention of the Constitution and the Electoral Act on the limitation of political broadcasts.
In the statement, which was signed by the Secretary to the Commission, Mrs. Augusta C. Ogakwu, the commission stressed that Section 99 of the Electoral Act 2010 prohibits broadcast and political campaigns earlier than 90 days before polling day.
Section 99 (1) of the Electoral Act 2010 states: “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.”
It added that the relevant extracts of the Electoral Act have since been reproduced and circulated by the commission at public places, to media outfits, the Ministry of Information, National Orientation Agency (NOA), National Communications Commission (NCC), headquarters of the 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.