The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has lifted the ban it imposed on Presidential and National Assembly elections’ campaigns.
The commission had asked all political parties to stop campaigning following the postponement of the February 16 Presidential and National Assembly elections by one week.
But yesterday, after a meeting to review its activities that will lead to successful polls on Saturday, the commission allowed political parties and their members to resume campaigns until 24 hours to the polls.
INEC national commissioner and chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Barr Festus Okoye said in a statement shortly after a meeting between the INEC chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu and the 12 National Commissioners said the commission has approved that campaigns by parties and candidates can resume forthwith to end by midnight of Thursday, 21 February 2019.
“The Independent National Electoral Commission ( lNEC ) met on Monday 18th February 2019 and reviewed its preparations for the 2019 General Elections re-scheduled for Saturday, 23rd February 2019 for the Presidential and National Assembly Elections and Saturday, 9th March 2019 for Governorship, State Assembly and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council Elections.
“It would be recalled that at the briefing held on Saturday, 16th February 2019 at the Abuja International Conference Centre (AlCC), the commission gave reasons for re-scheduling the polls and released a new Schedule of Activities leading up to the elections.
“The commission has also worked out in detail, concrete steps to be taken to ensure that election materials arrive at the polling units in good time for prompt commencement of the polls on Saturday, 23rd February 2019. An update will be provided by the commission at a press conference on Tuesday, 19th February at the Abuja international Conference Centre by 3pm
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“In the meantime, after consultations with political parties the commission has approved that campaigns by parties and candidates can resume forthwith to end by midnight of Thursday, 21 February 2019,” the statement said.
INEC said media organisations are at liberty to accept, publish, broadcast and circulate campaign materials up till midnight of Thursday 21st February 2019.
“Political parties and their candidates are enjoined to abide by the extant laws governing campaigns. The commission wishes to thank all Nigerians for their understanding regarding the rescheduling of the elections. We appeal to stakeholders to be dispassionate and circumspect in their comments. The commission is focusing on the elections to be held on 23rd February and 9th March to ensure that they are free, fair and credible. We urge all Nigerians to participate fully in the elections, notwithstanding the disappointment,” INEC said.
INEC had announced after the shift of the general elections by one week that political campaigns for the Presidential and National Assembly elections ended Thursday last week.
Yakubu, while responding to a question from the representative of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairman, Chief Osita Chidoka on whether they should continue with campaigns since the elections have been postponed by one week, said the ban was still in force.
LEADERSHIP reports that Section 99(1) of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended provide that public campaigns shall end 24 hours prior to the day of elections.
But the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) said yesterday that in view of the provisions of the Section 99 of the Electoral Act, its over 51 members should commence campaigns today.
A statement issued by its 1st national spokesperson, Barr Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, CUPP directed all members to return to the campaigns fields and recommence campaigns and end by midnight of Thursday 21st February, 2019 as required by law.
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After CUPP and the ruling APC threatened to resume campaigns today if the commission does not lift the ban, INEC chairman’s spokesman, Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi said the commission would meet Monday for a final decision.
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