*As campaigns ends Thursday
By Folorunso Alagbede, Abuja
Ahead of tomorrow’s Edo State governorship election, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has warned that political parties, candidates and their supporters should not appear at the polling units in their campaign attires or carry any campaign materials with them.
The Professor Mahmood Yakubu-led INEC has similarly announced that all
campaigns by political parties for Saturday’s governorship election have formally come to an end by midnight of Thursday (yesterday).
The commission said these yesterday in a press statement by a National Commissioner and Chairman,
Information and Voter Education Committee, IVEC, Mr Sam Olumekun in Abuja.
The Commission categorically declared that it is illegal for any political party in Edo State to engage in rallies, processions or media campaigns from midnight of yesterday.
These prohibitions, including sanctions, according to INEC, are provided for in Section 96 of the Electoral Act 2022.
The Commission urged parties, candidates and their supporters to take note of the provisions of the law for compliance.
The statement by Olumekun reads, “The Commission wishes to remind political parties that in line with Section 94(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, and item 12 of the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2024 Edo State Governorship election, all campaigns by political parties end at midnight today (yesterday), Thursday 19th September 2024.
“It is therefore illegal for any political party in Edo State to engage in rallies, processions or media campaigns from midnight today.
“These prohibitions, including sanctions, are provided for in Section 96 of the Electoral Act 2022.
“Similarly, on Election Day, Saturday 21st September 2024, parties, candidates and their supporters should not appear at the polling units in their campaign attires or carry any campaign materials with them.
“We urge parties, candidates and their supporters to take note of the provisions of the law for compliance”, it said.
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