All political parties and candidates have been forewarned by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, against using masqueraders, public spaces, and religious institutions for campaigning.
The electoral body advised political parties to abide by the rules in order to avoid Act-mandated penalties.
Festus Okoye, Chairman of Information and Voter Education and National Commissioner of INEC, made this claim in an interview with Newsmen.
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According to Anaedoonline.ng, the announcement came precisely one month before the start of the campaigns, which the commission set for September 28 while the elections would take place on February 25, 2023.
In previous elections, several political parties and their candidates used a variety of theatrics, such as the usage of masqueraders, to enchant the crowd and liven up their rallies. Others secretly ran campaigns to win over government employees and worshippers in places of worship, particularly churches and mosques.
However, quoting from the provisions of the section, Okoye said, “Section 92 of the Electoral Act makes it mandatory 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.
“Therefore, abusive, intemperate, slanderous or base language or insinuations or innuendoes designed or likely to provoke violent reaction or emotions shall not be employed or used in political campaigns.
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“Subsection 3 states that 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.
“Masqueraders shall not be employed or used by any political party, aspirant or candidate during political campaigns or for any other political purpose.”
Speaking further, the INEC national commissioner pointed out that the Act already provided for sanctions for violators and that adherence to the law should be prioritised by all the parties and candidates.
In tandem with subsections 7(a)(b) and 8, Okoye stated, “A political party, aspirant or candidate who contravenes any of the provisions of Section 92 of the Act commits an offence and is liable on conviction in the case of an aspirant or candidate, to a maximum fine of N1,000,000 or imprisonment for a term of 12 months; and in the case of a political party, to a fine of N2,000,000 in the first instance, and N1,000,000 for any subsequent offence.
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“A person or group of persons who aids or abets a political party, an aspirant or a candidate in organising or equipping any person or group for the purpose of enabling them to be employed for the use or display of physical force commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of N500,000 or imprisonment for a term of three years or both.”
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