INEC cautions politicians against early campaign

The Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mr. Kayode Idowu, has cautioned politicians against early campaign to avoid overheating the polity.

 

Idowu made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Lagos.

He said that INEC had issued timetable which clearly indicated the timeline for commencing campaign by political parties and candidates in the country.

According to him, the commission has repeatedly warned political players to always abide by the provision of the Electoral Act to ensure sanity in the political process.

“We have issued a timetable to indicate the timeline for campaign. INEC has also repeatedly warned politicians on the need to play politics by the rule”, he said.

He said although INEC was not a law enforcement or security agency, it was in a position to ask law enforcement agencies to help in enforcing laws on electioneering.

Idowu reiterated the determination of the commission to provide level playing ground to all political parties to ensure justice and fair-play, with a view to enhancing citizens’ confidence in its activities.

He tasked the media to be factual and objective in their reportage, adding that the use of the media to perpetrate partisan manipulation could affect the success of the INEC.

Idowu, who said that INEC was making efforts to improve its activities, urged the media to join the commission for the realisation of  free, fair and credible elections.

“If politicians succeed in getting the whole of the media to report a perception over and over, then of course, it is going to rub off on the image of the political process.”

He stressed the need for the media to have the capacity to independently interrogate the political process and be able to report on the basis of the interrogation.

(NAN)