The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has lifted the curtain for electioneering campaigns for the Chairmanship and councillorship positions in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Political parties and their candidates are now free to canvass for votes from the electorate.
A release issued by the office of the Resident Electoral Commission, REC, Abuja, said the lifting of the ban on political activities for the posts was in line with the timetable and schedule of activities of the 2019 Federal Capital Territory, Area Council Elections Campaign.
Signed by Yahaya Bello, the release said: “The milestone (of commencement of campaigns on the road to the actual conduct of the FCT Area Council Elections scheduled for Saturday, 2nd March, 2019), is supported by section 99(1) of the Electoral Act 2010(as amended). This section provides that campaigns should commence ninety (90) days before polling day.”
He cautioned political parties and their candidates to abide by the relevant provisions of the law as they canvass for vote.
“They are to canvass for votes in decent and temperate language. They should avoid statements and actions that would undermine the conduct of the election and the peace and security of the FCT,” Bello said.
The release reminded the political parties and their candidates of section 95(1-8) of the Electoral Act 2010, (as amended), which provides guidance for campaigns.
Some of the provisions of the section include:
· A political campaign or slogan shall not be tainted with abusive language directly or indirectly likely to injure religious, ethnic, tribal or sectional feelings
· Abusive, intemperate, slanderous or base language or insinuations or innuendoes designed or likely to provoke violent reaction or emotions shall not be employed or used in political campaigns.
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· Places designated for religious worship, police station and public offices shall not he used for political campaigns, rallies and processions: or to promote, propagate or attack political parties, candidates, their programmes or ideologies.
· A political party or member of a political party shall not retain, organise, train or equip any person or group of persons for the purpose of enabling them to be employed for the use or display of physical force or coercion in promoting any political objective or interest, or in such manner as to arouse reasonable apprehension that they are organised, trained or equipped for that purpose, among others.
