By Femi Ogunshola
A Constitutional Lawyer, Mr Kayode Ajulo, has warned Nigerian politicians and political parties against disobeying the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022, especially regarding the conduct of campaigns ahead of the 2023 general elections.
Ajulo reminded candidates contesting various positions in the forthcoming elections that by virtue of the Electoral Act provisions, a lot of restrictions have been placed to prevent the usual electoral malpractices that start even from the period of the campaign.The lawyer in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja, urged political gladiators, parties and other campaign group to steer clear of campaigning in palaces of traditional rulers across the country.He said that palaces are public funded place and must not be used as campaign ground, adding that such flagrant disobedience of the electoral law would come with consequences.
The constitutional Lawyer while quoting relevant section said: “Section 92 of the Electoral Act, 2022, provides for prohibition of certain conduct at political campaigns.He said that certain conducts at political campaigns has been expanded to include political parties, candidates and even aspirants, who were previously not included.This, he said include mandatory provision 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.
According to him, abusive, intemperate, slanderous or bias language or insinuations or innuendoes designed or likely to provoke violent reaction or emotions shall not be used in political campaigns.He said that places designated for religious worship, police stations and public offices shall not be used for political campaigns.Others include: rallies and processions; or to promote, propagate or attack political parties, candidates or their programmes or ideologies.“
By the above provision prohibiting the use of public offices for election campaigns, it is safe to submit that palaces of our traditional rulers that are maintained with public funds are categorised as public offices.”He said that a credible election remained the basis for conferring legitimacy on any government in a democratic dispensation.Ajulo said that Nigeria has had a rich history of severely blemished elections since the first post-independence general elections in 1965.He said since then, all elections in the country had been characterised by one form of stigma or the other, while urging political parties to play by the rule.
NAN reports that President Muhammadu Buhari signed the new Electoral Act 2022, on Feb. 25 repealing the Electoral Act 2010.
Sections 92, 93, 94, 95 and 96 of the new Electoral Act have prohibitions with penal consequences for campaigns in places of worship, palaces, and places with public offices.
There are also consequences for intimidation, vote buying, rigging, forgery of ballot papers, ballot box snatching and other electoral malpractices.
Section 92(3) says, “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 programmes or ideologies.”NAN also reports that Mr Festus Okoye, INEC Commissioner, Information and Voter Education had earlier, warned politicians against campaigning in Churches, Mosques and other public places.
The campaign train of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) comprises 325 members with Gov. Udom Emmanuel as the director-general, while the campaign team of the All Progressives Congress (APC) consists of 442 members with President Muhammadu Buhari as chairman.
Both Tinubu and APC national chairman, Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, are co-deputy chairmen.
As the campaigns, takes off, the stage is set for the parties and their candidates to take the battle to the territories of their opponents while making efforts to consolidate their foothold on their individual base. (NAN)
