As political parties begin campaigns for the 2023 elections on Wednesday, the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) has issued the guidelines on the commencement of campaigns.
This is just as INEC, Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, have given a stern warning to political parties to avoid violence during the exercise.
The development came amid rising insecurity in the country as politicians also step up efforts to protect themselves with the demand for bulletproof cars and security gadgets rising in recent months.
The Chairman of INEC, Mahmud Yakubu, said abusive and slanderous words could provoke violence during the campaigns.
Yakubu, who was represented by a National Commissioner, Festus Okoye, spoke at a workshop in Lagos on Monday.
“Abusive, intemperate, slanderous or base language or innuendoes designed or likely to provoke violent reaction or emotions shall not be employed or used in political campaigns. Let me also remind the media of their constitutional and legal obligations,” he said.
The INEC chairman further reiterated this position during a sensitisation forum on political broadcasting in Abuja, with the theme, ‘Towards a fair and responsible broadcast coverage of the 2023 general elections.’
He warned that the commission would do everything within its power to ensure that the 2023 general election was free, fair, credible, transparent, inclusive and verifiable.
He said, “Candidates and their supporters, as well as the media have a responsibility to operate within the confines of the law and the provisions of the commission’s regulations and guidelines. Issue-based campaigns are essential for safe electioneering. In turn, this will create the atmosphere for the successful deployment and conduct of all electoral activities.
“Campaigns should be devoid of hate speech, abusive or slanderous language, insinuations or innuendos likely to provoke a violent reaction, physical attacks on supporters of one party or another or the destruction of campaign materials.
“More specifically, section 95 of the Electoral Act defines the responsibilities of political parties and candidates, the media and public institutions. It also provides sanctions for violations.
“For instance, in the course of our numerous interactions with political parties over the years, many of them have complained about the denial of access to public facilities for their meetings or rallies, exorbitant charges for signage and billboards and equal access to the state media.”
Similarly, the Sultan, who is also the leader of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Mohammed Abubakar, and the CAN president, Rev. Daniel Okoh, called on Nigerians to work together for peace and justice ahead of the 2023 general elections.
They made the call on Monday during the 2022 third quarter meeting of the Nigeria Inter-Religion Council, held on Victoria Island, Lagos.
The event themed, ‘Working together for justice and peace,’ was also attended by the Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu; the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha and leaders of NIREC.
Abubakar said, “The role of religious leaders is to be just and fair to earn the trust of the people and I urge Muslims and Christians in the country to come together to pursue peace and justice because we are inseparable.”
Okoh said, “As we prepare for another significant milestone in our country, the 2023 general elections, it is important that we guard our actions and utterances as leaders. We must not be seen as people who are fanning embers of hate, disunity, encouraging political violence, or attempting to divide the populace along tribal or religious lines.”
Mustapha, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Office of the Secretary to Government of the Federation, Dr Maurice Mbaeri, urged religious leaders to create the needed change so that Nigerians can always live in unity and harmony.
“I want to charge every one of us to work for peace that will endure and outlast us by creating functional structures for generations unborn. This structure must have the capacity to be proactive in responding to emerging issues while reinforcing longer and larger change processes. We cannot fold our hands when we see problems emerging,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Kwara Resident Electoral Commissioner, Malam Garba Attahiru, represented by the INEC Administrative Secretary, Mr Julius Yagba, also said on Monday in Ilorin during a stakeholders meeting that 14 activities have been successfully implemented, as INEC published the final list of nominated candidates on September 20, 2022.
He said the next activity in line is the commencement of campaigns by the political parties on Sept. 28.
He added that the meeting was designed to remind all stakeholders about the responsibilities and expectations during the campaigns for various offices.
According to him, the offices of the President and National Assembly campaigns will start on Sept. 28, and the Governorship and State House of Assembly is on Oct.12.
“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 likely 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,” the REC said.
He, therefore, warned politicians against the use of armed private security organisations during campaigns or election processions.
He also enjoined political parties and their candidates to comply with these provisions as contravening them will attract sanctions.
He said that any political party, aspirant or candidate who contravened Section 92 of the Act would be fined N1 million or 12 months imprisonment.
He however said a political party that contravened the provision of Section 92 would be fined N2 million and N1 million for any subsequent offence.
He said further that any candidate or aspirant who equipped any person or group to display physical force commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of N500,000 or three years imprisonment.
He urged the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to monitor the campaign process as well as ensure efficient and effective deployment of personnel for peaceful electioneering.
