INEC warns politicians against early campaigns Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned political parties and politicians against campaigning before the approved time.
Speaking at a capacity building workshop for head of education and publicity of the commission, the commissioner in charge of information and voter education, Mr. Festus Okoye, said for now, the electoral law only permit political parties to commence campaigns 90 days to the election.
Okoye said, “As at now, we are still operating within the existing electoral framework that makes it mandatory for political parties to only begin campaigns 90 days to election.
“But if the bill before the national assembly and assented by the president, parties could submit their nominated candidates 180 days to election.
“What is not allowed is campaigning in public, but you can go and hold meetings with like minds.”
Commenting on security concerns during the 2023 general elections, Okoye said INEC is working with all the relevant security agencies to make sure that no community is disenfranchised.
According to him, “The chairman of the commission will meet with the heads of the nation’s security agencies and review the security situation in the country and determine further deployment and devolution of the CVR on a roll out, roll back procedure.”
Okoye said, “As we move closer to the 2023 general election, all the critical stakeholders and the security agencies must resolve to degrade and or neutralize the security threats across the federation.
“Our people must be assured that they can vote in a peaceful atmosphere.”
Okoye said further that, “As we move closer to the 2023 general election, all the critical stakeholders and the security agencies must resolve to degrade and or neutralize the security threats across the federation.
“Our people must be assured that they can vote in a peaceful atmosphere.”
He charged the participants at the workshop to engage all the stakeholders involved in the election process, especially in creating awareness to the public on the activities of the commission.
