The instructions for the start of the general election campaigns in 2023 have been released by the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) in Kwara.
The state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Malam Garba Attahiru, made this announcement.during a stakeholders meeting on Monday in Ilorin.
Attahiru stated that 14 activities had been successfully carried out as of September 20, 2022, when INEC published the final list of candidates nominated. He was speaking through INEC Administrative Secretary Mr. Julius Yagba.
He continued by saying that the purpose of the conference was to remind all parties involved of their obligations and deadlines for the various offices’ campaigns.
He said that the campaigns for the National Assembly and President will begin on September 28, while that of the governors a d state House of Assembly will start on October 12.
He said, “Relying on Section 92 of the Electoral Act, 2022, the commission expects the political campaigns to be civil, devoid of abusive language and without any rancour.
“Section 92 of the Electoral Act 2022 forbids any political campaign or slogan tainted with abusive language directly or indirectly or one likely to injure religious, ethnic, tribal or sectional feelings.
“Therefore abusive, intemperate, slanderous or base language or insinuations or innuendoes intended or iikely to provoke violent reactions or emotion should be avoided.
“Parties and candidates are to avoid training or enlisting the services of individuals or groups, e.g. masquerades, for the purpose of adopting physical force or coercion in a manner likely to arouse apprehension during campaigns.”
Therefore, he advised politicians against using armed private security companies in electoral processions or campaigns.
Additionally, he warned political parties and their candidates that breaking these rules could result in penalties.
Any political party, aspirant, or candidate who violated Section 92 of the Act, according to him, would face a N1 million fine or 12 months in jail.
On the other hand, he stated that a political party that violated Section 92’s requirement would be punished N2 million and N1 million for any successive offense.
He added that any candidate or aspirant who gives someone or a group the means to use physical force is guilty of an offense and faces a fine of N500,000 or three years in jail upon conviction.
He encouraged the Nigeria Police Force and other security organizations to watch the election campaign and make sure that manpower is deployed effectively and efficiently.