Ekiti: No Campaign For Now, INEC Tells Politicians |The Source

By Ayodele Oni

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has reminded politicians in Ekiti State that it is illegal to embark on any form of campaign now.

The Commission warned political parties against engaging in premature campaigns, ahead of the 2022 Governorship election or risk being sanctioned.

Some political parties and politicians have embarked on campaign tours to Local Governments to sell their annoited candidates, ahead of the election, which date is yet to be fixed by INEC.

Some Governorship aspirants too have taken to social media with their posters and manifestoes in their attempt to woo supporters.

But, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the State, Dr Adeniran Tella, said all these are illegal as the Commission was yet to unfold the time table for the Governorship election.

He was speaking in Ado-Ekiti at a Stakeholders’ meeting with political leaders, youths, women and religious groups.

The meeting was convened to address issues bothering on expanding voters’ access to polling units, as it affected the state.

The REC declared that “the commission is challenging you to play this game by the rules.

“A section of the Electoral Act, 2010, as amended, frowns at organising election campaigns ahead of the stipulated time.

“For the avoidance of doubt, that section of the law states that the period of campaigns in public by any political party shall commence 90 days before the voting day and end 24 hours before the day.”

The next Governorship election in Ekiti State is expected to hold by June, 2022, while the tenure of the incumbent Governor, Kayode Fayemi, will expire in October, 2022.