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There should be no public campaigning by presidential candidates
until November 18, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
said yesterday.
This is in line with the timelines given by the agency and the
provisions of the Electoral Act, INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu
said.
He advised parties and their candidates to adhere to the electoral
timetable during a workshop for election professionals from the
Commonwealth Africa Region.
Yakubu reminded political parties and candidates that the end of primaries did not mean the immediate commencement of campaigns.
“Section 99(1) prohibits campaigns by political parties earlier than 90 days before polling day.
“Therefore, going by the provisions of the Electoral Act and
the Timetable and Schedule of Activities issued by the Commission,
campaign for Presidential and National Assembly elections will commence
on Nov. 18.
“Campaign for Governorship and State Assembly elections begins on Dec. 1.
“I call upon political parties and candidates to strictly adhere to these dates,’’ he said.
Yakubu said that with the conclusion of primaries by political
parties yesterday, the next activity was the nomination of candidates to
the commission.
He reminded political parties that the dates for the submission of
lists of candidates (Form CFOO2) and their personal particulars (Forms
C1001) for presidential and National Assembly elections are from Oct 10
to Oct.18.
The date for the governorship and State Assembly elections is Oct. 22 and Nov. 2.
“The commission will receive the submission from political
parties at Aso Hall of the International Conference Centre, Abuja, from
9.a.m to 4.p.m. daily.
“Although we have communicated these dates to all political parties, let me reiterate that there will be no extension of time.
“Similarly, in making submissions to the commission, the
covering letters as well as the list of candidates must be duly signed
by the National Chairmen and National Secretaries of political patties
in line with the commission’s guidelines.’’
Yakubu described the workshop and its theme, “Strengthening Electoral Democracy in the Commonwealth African Region” as topical and relevant.
He said that all the countries of the Commonwealth, Africa region,
needed to further consolidate on election process so that elections were
not merely periodic but also peaceful and credible.
“Bringing election managers together to share experiences and
build capacities is a critical step to the consolidation of electoral
democracy,” Yakubu said.
Yakubu said that participants would be taken through five
interrelated sub-themes, ranging from the promotion of sustainable
electoral democracy, strategic planning, gender and elections, electoral
technology to elections and new media.