“Do Not Use Churches And Mosques For Campaign,” INEC Warns 2023 Candidates

Political parties and candidates have been forewarned by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against using masked individuals, public spaces, and religious buildings for campaigns.

Festus Okoye, the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Committee on Information and Voter Education, urged political parties to strictly adhere to the Electoral Act’s requirements in order to avoid penalties as set down in the Act in an interview with Punch.

The National Assembly and presidential campaigns will officially begin on September 28 as the elections are set to take place on February 25, 2023.

Mr Okoye used Section 92 of the Electoral Act, 2022, to clarify that the law expected political campaigns to be civil and free of abuse.

He stated that during the previous elections, several political parties and their candidates had a reputation for using all types of theatrics, including the use of masqueraders, to enliven their rallies and entertain the crowd. Others secretly ran campaigns to win over government employees and worshippers in places of worship, particularly churches and mosques.

In the interview, 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.

“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.”