As campaigns for the 2023 general elections kick off this
Wednesday, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),
Prof Mahmood Yakubu has read the riot act to political parties.
According to Yakubu, they must critically study and pay
attention to the provisions of the Constitution, the Electoral Act, the Police
Act and the Public Order Act for the proper and peaceful conduct of political
campaigns, rallies and processions.
Prof. Yakubu also reminded the parties that their campaigns
and slogans must not be tainted with “abusive language directly or indirectly,
which are likely going to injure religious, ethnic, tribal or sectional
feelings”.
He sounded the note of warning on Monday, at the opening of
a two- Day Capacity building workshop on the Commission’s Processes,
Preparations for the 2023 General Election and Critical Issues in the Electoral
Act 2022 for INEC Press Corps, held in Lagos.
The INEC boss cautioned that ”abusive, intemperate,
slanderous or base language or innuendoes designed or likely to provoke violent
reactions or emotions must not be employed or used in political campaigns”.
Represented by Barrister Festus Okoye, INEC National
Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Prof
Yakubu charged the media to exercise their constitutional responsibility and
hold the political parties to task, ensuring they uphold the guidelines and
provisions of the Electoral Act as it relates to the coming elections.
He reiterated that the media has a critical role to play in
the overall success of the election and reassured that INEC will deploy technology
to give Nigerians a full experience of electoral justice.
He stated, “I want to assure Nigerians that the Commission
will deploy and continue to deploy appropriate technology for the conduct of
elections. The Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and INEC Result
Viewing Portal (IreV) will be deployed for the conduct of the 2023 general
election.
”We will continue to use technology to improve and enhance
the credibility of elections in Nigeria. Our goal is electoral justice where
every Nigerian will experience electoral fulfilment”.
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