INEC threatens to sanction aspirants, parties over unlawful campaign

The Edo State Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Anugbum Onuoha, has warned aspirants and political parties to stop campaigning for the governorship election with immediate effect or face sanctions.

In his statement on Monday in Benin, the REC said the commission had not lifted the suspension on campaign, noting that parties and candidates were expected to begin campaigning on April 24.

He said political parties were not expected to campaign publicly for the primary election as it is an internal affair.

He urged all the political parties and aspirants to pull down billboards, signposts, as well as adverts on television and newspapers.

The REC said, “I am calling on the aspirants and the 16 political parties taking part in the September 21 election to comply with the timetable of the election.

“They are not supposed to campaign publicly for the primary election. It is against the law.

“I will urge them to pull down their banners, billboard and stop running jingles on radio.

“If they do not comply with this directive, we would have no other option than to sanction them.”

Onuoha added that his duty is to write a report and send to the headquarters of the commission, not to announce results as primary election is an internal affair.

“We were present at the APC primary election. We saw what happened and we will present our report to Abuja,” he said.