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2015 Election: Politicians Exploiting Faults In Electoral Law —INEC by msmon(m): 4:33am On Aug 26, 2014 |
www.punchng.com/politics/politicians-exploiting-gaps-in-electoral-law-inec/ The Independent National Electoral Commission has said politicians are taking advantage of gaps in the Electoral Act to campaign before the stipulated time ahead of the 2015 general election. Mr. Kayode Idowu, who is the Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, said the commission was aware of the rallies, display of campaign posters and other activities politicians have been engaged in ahead of the election. Idowu told our correspondent that the commission in collaboration with political parties, was developing specific guidelines that would complement the Electoral Act in checking the excesses of politicians. Responding to allegations that INEC had turn a blind eye to the rallies being held by politicians in contravention of INEC’s directive, Idowu, said, “INEC doesn’t speak for any politician or political party. INEC is a dispassionate umpire. What is happening is that politicians are exploiting and taking advantage of gaps in the electoral law. The law is not explicit about some things. “For instance, the electoral law says political parties should not campaign before the stipulated time, but it is clear about individual politicians, since they are not political parties as mentioned by the law, it is difficult to stop them by law. “Then what is campaign? How do you define what and what constitutes campaign? The people doing this are clever. They would say something like ‘carry go,’ ‘the best man for the job,’ and so on. You don’t see them saying “vote for this person for this position in 2015 general election.” He added that INEC had held meetings with the political parties with the aim of drawing up a stricter guideline that would ensure that no politician gets away with engaging in activities that would give them unfair advantage. Idowu noted that the commission had in the past penalised erring politicians, and would not spare any ahead of the 2015 elections. “INEC has not completely kept quiet about this. In the past, INEC asked law enforcement agents to intervene, especially in cases where somebody comes up to say ‘vote for me for this position’ when primaries have not been conducted. Law enforcement agents have intervened in such cases in the past,” he said. Recent rallies by the groups seeking the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan in different parts of the country, have sparked several reactions. Some politicians, particularly those in the opposition, have criticised INEC for not stopping the rallies. The spokesperson for the Lagos State House of Assembly and Chairman, House Committee on Information, Strategy, Security and Publicity, Mr. Segun Olulade, called on INEC to justify its neutrality by insisting on strict adherence to the Electoral Act and election timetable. Olulade in a statement on Monday said the endorsement rally which was held in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Saturday for Jonathan was in violation of the 2015 election timetable.
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Re: 2015 Election: Politicians Exploiting Faults In Electoral Law —INEC by Nobody: 5:49am On Aug 26, 2014 |
Seriously? They've been doing this since forever and it has become 'usual practice'. |
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