INEC PLANS TO SANCTION POLITICIANS WHO CAMPAIGN IN RELIGIOUS CIRCLES

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned political parties and candidates against the use of masqueraders, public facilities, and religious centers for the campaigns towards 2023 elections.

Citing section 92 of the Electoral Act, 2022, INEC commissioner and chairman of its committee on information and voter education, Barr. Festus Okoye, in an interview stated that political parties should align strictly with the provisions of the Electoral Act to avoid sanctions as stipulated by the Act. 

He pointed out that “Subsection 3 states that places designated for religious worship, police stations, and public offices shall not be used for political campaigns, rallies, and processions; or to promote, propagate or attack political parties, candidates, or their programs or ideologies”.

He said that the law expects political campaigns to be civil and devoid of abuse.

“The Electoral Act makes it mandatory that a political campaign or slogan shall not be tainted with abusive language directly or indirectly likely to injure religious, ethnic, tribal or sectional feelings, therefore, abusive, intemperate, slanderous, base language or insinuations or innuendoes designed or likely to provoke violent reaction or emotions shall not be employed or used in political campaigns”.

He further warned that “maqueraders shall not be employed or used by any political party, aspirant or candidate during political campaigns or for any other political purpose.”