2015: Electioneering Starts Nov 16

Indications have
emerged that the campaigns for the next
presidential poll would kick off not later than
November 16 this year in line with the
provisions of the Electoral Act, following the
release of the 2015 general elections time-table
by the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC).
The 2011 Amended Electoral Act, which INEC
relied upon in issuing the time-table, stipulates
that campaigns into elective offices must begin
90 days to election day.
Counting from the date set by INEC for the
election on February 14, 2015 means that the
campaigns must start not later than November
15, 2014 and end on February 12, 2015, which is
24 hours before the end of the 90 days
stipulated in the Act.
Section 99 of the Act states: “For the purpose of
this Act, the period of campaigning in public by
every political party shall commence 90 days
before polling day and shall end 24 hours prior
to that day.”
The violation of the Act could lead to a fine of
N500,000.
A statement by Secretary to INEC, on Friday
night, said the presidential and National
Assembly polls hold on February 14, 2015 while
gubernatorial and state assembly elections are
fixed for February 28, 2015. According to the
statement, Ekiti and Osun State gubernatorial
elections hold on June 21 and August 9, 2014
respectively.
Meanwhile, politicians, yesterday, differed in
their reactions to the time-table.
While a former Chief Whip of the Senate,
Senator Roland Owie, described it as fantastic,
Senator Francis Okpozo faulted it on the
grounds that the gubernatorial poll ought to
come before presidential.
Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume said he was
only concerned about free and fair polls just as
Senator Odion Ugbesia (Edo) was optimistic
the order of election as shown in the time-table
would reduce costs and enhance voters
convenience.
Reacting to the time-table, the PDP said that, as
a law abiding party, it will be guided by the
procedure for electoral processes.
It urged the APC to, in the same manner it
instructed its members in the National
Assembly to stall the passage of the 2014
Budget, and screening of the newly nominated
ministerial candidates, do same in the
forthcoming elections.
The PDP also boasted that democracy has come
to stay in Nigeria with or without the APC.
Speaking with Sunday Vanguard, the PDP
National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh,
noted that it became imperative for the PDP to
ask the APC to order its members to boycott
the elections because it has become what he
termed the stock in trade on the part of the
opposition to call for the boycott of elections.
Metuh said the job at hand for the PDP was
intensive sentization of the various organs of
the party at all levels to prepare for the
forthcoming elections as stipulated by INEC.
“The INEC time-table is part of democratic
process. PDP is a law-abiding party; we are
guided by the procedure for electoral processes.
We will participate fully in the entire process.
Our job is to sensitise the various organs of our
party to mobilize themselves and rallies for the
election,” the PDP spokesperson stated.
“We are not unmindful of the machinations of
the opposition who have become undemocratic
in their actions and activities to boycot
elections; we hold that they will instruct their
members in the National Assembly not to
participate in the electoral process.
“Let me put it unequivocally that democracy
has come to stay in Nigeria, with or without the
APC”