2019: INEC warns politicians against early campaigns

-The ban on political campaign is yet to be lifted, INEC warns politicians.

-All related campaigns currently going on are illegal and unconstitutional.

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has warned politicians and political parties in the country to immediately end all forms of campaign targeted at the 2019 general elections.

According to him, the ban on campaign was still on and until it was lifted, it was illegal for any party or politician to commence campaign.

The warning was handed down by the INEC boss during a consultative meeting with the media in Abuja on Tuesday.

According to the election umpire boss, any such electioneering campaign is contrary to Section 99 of the Electoral Act 201 (as amended).

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The section says: “For the purpose of this Act, the period of campaigning in public by every political party shall commence 90 days before polling day.”

The INEC chairman, has therefore warned politicians in the country and all political parties to respect the provisions of the constitution.

Yakubu said: “We want to draw the attention of political parties and candidates that are already going round the country campaigning for 2019 that INEC, the only agency responsible for the release of timetable and schedule of activities, hasn’t done so.

“And anything that anybody does is illegal under the law. We should wait for the timetable for the campaign.

“The release of timetable does not mean the commencement of campaign.”

Recall INEC had in a recent meeting held with Resident Electoral Commissioners, released the dates for the 2019 general elections but maintained the ban on campaigns has not been lifted yet.