INEC to politicians: We’ve not lifted ban on 2019 campaigns

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), yesterday, warned politicians and political parties to desist from going about soliciting for electoral support, saying it is yet to lift the ban on campaigns ahead of the 2019 general elections.

INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who handed down the warning during the commission’s quarterly consultative meeting with the media at the INEC’s secretariat, described such actions as illegal. The warning came five days after Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, declared his intention to vie for the nation’s presidency in 2019, and vowed to upstage the incumbent government of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Already, Fayose’s posters had flooded many towns and villages in the South West, some states in the remaining geopolitical zones and Abuja, the FCT.

Besides Fayose, many politicians gunning for the presidency, governorship, national and state assemblies, have been tactically campaigning.

Prof. Yakubu, who disclosed that INEC had commenced work on the 2019 elections budget said, “Let me warn political parties and aspirants that we have not released the schedule of activities for the elections. They should wait for the time table of the elections; anything that anybody does before then is illegal before the law.”

Section 99 of the Electoral Act 201 (as amended), 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. Such a person is liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of N500,000.”

Yakubu further said though the commission could not immediately place a figure on the 2019 elections budget, it was already working on it.

“As you are aware, we have concluded the strategic plan. We are now working on the Election Project Plan. Once we conclude the Election Project Plan, a number of things would follow, among which is the election budget for the 2019 general elections which would be released next week. We are unable to give you a figure for now,” he said.