2015 And The Violation Of Electoral Act

Editorial

In blatant violation of Section 99 of the Nigerian Electoral Act, huge billboards urging the electorate to return President Goodluck Jonathan to office in 2015 and others displaying his achievements can be seen everywhere in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.  Section 99 of the Electoral 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.”

With the general elections set to begin on 14 February, 2015, 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. But in Abuja, from the Central District Area to Garki, to Wuse, to Maitama and even at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, billboards for Jonathan’s campaign are already everywhere.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, had fixed the presidential and National Assembly polls for 14 February, 2015 while governorship and state assembly elections will take place on 28 February, 2015.

Jonathan’s campaign billboards and other disguised forms of campaign on radio and television on his behalf by the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria, TAN, coordinated by Udenta O. Udenta, clearly are a violation of our country’s Electoral Act.

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The violation of the Act, that could lead to a fine of N500,000, amounts to jumping the gun and is unhealthy for a fair presidential election next year. It all sartted late last year when TAN began a subtle TV advert campaign about Jonthan’s achievements. This created a bandwagon effect and other political office seekers began to print posters and erect billboards across the country a few months ago.

It is appalling that the president, who is supposed to lead by example, is the one breaking the law with impunity. He cannot claim to be unaware of the existence of such billboards and the massive zonal rallies being organised for him by TAN.

Because the president is deeply involved, INEC appears to be helpless in  stopping the early campaigns or ordering the removal of campaign billboards in Abuja and all over the country. INEC has also failed to muster the courage to suspend radio and television jingles, and reassure the electorate of the sanctity of the law.  Only a truly independent INEC can wield the big stick in this circumstance. This does not augur well for our democracy.

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