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.

Seriously? They've been doing this since forever and it has become 'usual practice'.