The party made this known in a statement signed by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan on Sunday.
The Peoples Democratic has hinted that it will commence its campaigns following the postponement of the general elections.
The party made this known in a statement signed by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan on Sunday, February 1, 2019.
This is coming on the heels of a directive by the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), to its members to continue its campaign efforts for Atiku Abubakar.
CUPP’s spokesman, Imo Ugochinyere said that Section 99(1) of the Electoral Act states that campaigns should end 24 hours prior to the day of elections.
Read PDP’s full statement below:
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), after due
consideration of the provision of the Electoral Act, is set to reopen
its open campaigns consequent upon the postponement of Presidential and
National Assembly elections by the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC) from the earlier scheduled date of February 16 to
February 23, 2019.
The
party rejects the wrongful administrative prohibition of open campaigns
by INEC, holding that such administrative pronouncement was erroneous,
directly in conflict with the provision of the Electoral Act and is not
backed by any other law in our country.
Our position is predicated on the clear
provision of section 99 (1) of the Electoral Act which stipulated that
“for the purposes 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”.
The clear import of this provision, in the
current situation, is that given the postponement of the election to
February 23, 2019, the 24 hours requirement for closure of all public
campaigning falls at midnight of February 21.
The PDP reminds INEC that whenever
its administrative pronouncement conflicts with the Electoral Act, such
administrative pronouncement must bow before the law. The party charges
INEC to be appropriately guided while directing its members to await
further directives ahead of its reopening of campaigns.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had earlier announced that there is no more room for campaigning.
