2015: Electioneering Starts Nov 16

Inec

Indications have emerged that the campaigns for the next presidential poll would kick off not later than November 16 this year in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act, following the release of the 2015 general elections time-table by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The 2011 Amended Electoral Act, which INEC relied upon in issuing the time-table, stipulates that campaigns into elective offices must begin 90 days to election day.

Counting from the date set by INEC for the election on February 14, 2015 means that the campaigns must start not later than November 15, 2014 and end on February 12, 2015, which is 24 hours before the end of the 90 days stipulated in the Act.

Section 99 of the Act states: “For the purpose of this Act, the period of campaigning in public by every political party shall commence 90 days before polling day and shall end 24 hours prior to that day.”

The violation of the Act could lead to a fine of N500,000.

A statement by Secretary to INEC, on Friday night, said the presidential and National Assembly polls hold on February 14, 2015 while gubernatorial and state assembly elections are fixed for February 28, 2015. According to the statement, Ekiti and Osun State gubernatorial elections hold on June 21 and August 9, 2014 respectively.

Meanwhile, politicians, yesterday, differed in their reactions to the time-table.

While a former Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Roland Owie, described it as fantastic, Senator Francis Okpozo faulted it on the grounds that the gubernatorial poll ought to come before presidential.

Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume said he was only concerned about free and fair polls just as Senator Odion Ugbesia (Edo) was optimistic the order of election as shown in the time-table would reduce costs and enhance voters convenience.

Reacting to the time-table, the PDP said that, as a law abiding party, it will be guided by the procedure for electoral processes.

It urged the APC to, in the same manner it instructed its members in the National Assembly to stall the passage of the 2014 Budget, and screening of the newly nominated ministerial candidates, do same in the forthcoming elections.

The PDP also boasted that democracy has come to stay in Nigeria with or without the APC.

Speaking with Sunday Vanguard, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, noted that it became imperative for the PDP to ask the APC to order its members to boycott the elections because it has become what he termed the stock in trade on the part of the opposition to call for the boycott of elections.

Metuh said the job at hand for the PDP was intensive sentization of the various organs of the party at all levels to prepare for the forthcoming elections as stipulated by INEC.

“The INEC time-table is part of democratic process. PDP is a law-abiding party; we are guided by the procedure for electoral processes. We will participate fully in the entire process. Our job is to sensitise the various organs of our party to mobilize themselves and rallies for the election,” the PDP spokesperson stated.

“We are not unmindful of the machinations of the opposition who have become undemocratic in their actions and activities to boycot elections; we hold that they will instruct their members in the National Assembly not to participate in the electoral process.

“Let me put it unequivocally that democracy has come to stay in Nigeria, with or without the APC”.