Political parties have been warned by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to desist from any form of abusive language or hate speech ahead of the commencement of the 2023 general elections campaign.
The electoral body called on the political parties to study 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.
The warning was issued by INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu while speaking at the ongoing two-day capacity-building workshop on the commission’s progress, innovations, preparations for the 2023 general elections and critical issues in the Electoral Act 2022 in Lagos.
Yakubu while speaking said, “As I have pointed out, the Commission has entered the critical phase in the electoral process. As of today, the Commission has undertaken eight out of the 14 items on the Calendar and Schedule of Activities for the 2023 General Election.
“On 20th September 2022, the Commission released the Final List of Candidates standing nominated for National Elections (Presidential and Vice-Presidential candidates, Senatorial and House of Representative Candidates).”
According to Yakubu, INEC on the 4th of October 2022 will release the final list of candidates for Governorship, Deputy Governorship and State Assemblies.
The INEC Chairman said the presidential and National Assembly campaigns will commence on the 28th of September, 2022, while that of Governorship and State Assembly candidates will start on the 12th of October 2022.
He warned that political campaigns or slogans should not cause harm to religious, ethnic, tribal, or sectional feelings or provoke violence.
Yakubu added that “equal coverage and visibility shall be allotted to all political parties by all public print and electronic media organisations. The same applies in equal measure to privately owned media organizations subject to payment of appropriate fees.”
