The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday said it will start taking necessary action against associations, corporate bodies, individuals, political parties, media or such communication agencies, social media, candidates/aspirants who contravene the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (As amended) and/or Electoral Act 2010 (As amended) on public campaign/rally and procession.
In a statement dated 26th September 2014 entitled: “Caution On Illegal Public Political Broadcast And Campaign” and addressed to all National Chairmen of registered political parties, corporate entities, associations and the general public, the Commission said its attention had been drawn to the insistent illegal campaigns carried out by Associations, Corporate entities, Individuals, Public and Private Media and other Communication Agencies in the country in contravention of the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (As Amended) and the Electoral Act 2010 (As Amended) on limitation of political broadcasts.
In the statement which was signed by the Secretary to the Commission, Mrs. Augusta C. Ogakwu, the Commission stressed that Section 99 of the Electoral Act 2010 (As Amended) prohibited broadcast and political campaign earlier than ninety (90) days before polling day.
Section 99 (1) of the Electoral Act 2010 (As Amended) reads: “For the purpose 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”.
Relevant Extracts of the Electoral Act 2010 (As Amended) have since been reproduced and circulated by the Com-mission at public places, to media outfits, the Ministry of Information, National Orientation Agency (NOA), National Communication Commission (NCC) Head-quarters of Interparty Advisory Council (IPAC), Headquarters of State, FCT, Local Government Area offices of INEC and the Federal Ministry of Environment for their information and proper guidance.
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