All may still not be lost for political parties in Nigeria who are still interested in resumption of campaigns after the postponement announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Saturday morning.
INEC will be meeting on Monday to decide if parties can resume canvassing for votes openly.
Equally, the gubernatorial, state Assembly and FCT council polls earlier scheduled for 2nd March have been shifted to 9th March 2019.
The commission had blamed logistics and sabotage of its efforts for the postponement.
This will be the third time in recent times that the general elections will be postponed.
The general elections in 2011 and 2015 were also postponed.
The parties are eager to resume political campaign, given the current situation the country has found itself.
Section 99 (1) of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended stipulated that political campaign must end 24 hours to an election.
“For the purpose of this Act, the period of campaigning in public by every political party shall commence 90 days before polling day and end 24 hours prior to that day.
Section 2 of the Act stipulated a fine of N500, 000 punishment for any party which through any person acting on its behalf during the 24 hours prior to that day.
However, the law did not envisage a postponement, which explained it silence in the face of the present predicament the parties and the electoral body are confronted with.
But with the postponement of the election by a week, parties felt it will be wrong to stay mute for a week, as it may affect voter turnout for the rescheduled general elections.
INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu on Saturday during the interactive session with stakeholders, had said campaigns were over.
He, however, doubted the possibility of politicians remaining silent for a week without reaching out to voters.
The mounting pressure from political parties may have necessitated the commission’s decision to meet to discuss the possibility of resumption of political campaign.
Confirming the meeting, the Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman of the commission, Rotimi Oyekanmi, stated: “On campaigns, the Commission will meet tomorrow and take a decision.”
Credit: thenationonlineng.net
