Edo guber: INEC threatens to sanction aspirants, parties over unlawful campaign

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Edo State, Anugbum Onuoha, yesterday, warned aspirants and political parties to stop campaigning for the governorship election with immediate effect or face sanction.

He gave the warning in Benin while addressing journalists, saying that the Commission was yet to lift the ban on campaign. He said the parties and candidates were expected to begin campaigning on April 24.

Onuoha explained that political parties were not expected to campaign publicly for the primary election as it is an internal affair of the parties, adding that the practice was not in line with the INEC’s timetable.

He, therefore, urged the parties and aspirants to put a stop to it, just as he urged them to pull down billboards, and signposts, as well as adverts on television and newspapers.

“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, and billboards and stop running jingles on radio. They should also stop on television and newspapers. If they do not comply with this directive, we would have no other option than to sanction them,” Onuoha threatened.

He explained that the role of INEC in primary election is to monitor and supervise proceedings, and not expected to announce results as primary is mainly an internal affair of the parties.

He stated that his duty is to do a report and send to the headquarters of the Commission. He said: “We were present at the APC primary election. We saw what happened and we will present our report to Abuja.”