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UPDATED: INEC LIFTS BAN ON CAMPAIGNS

NIGERIA DECIDES

After due consultation with political parties, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Monday, announced that political parties can resume campaigns “forthwith” but must conclude them before 12 midnight on Thursday in accord with the Electoral Act.

This was revealed in a statement signed by Mr. Festus Okoye, a National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee at the commission.

INEC had earlier met with the Inter-party Advisory Council, IPAC, and a consensus was reached that the campaigns should continue to ginger better participation and induce a better voter turn-out.

Jeff Ojinika, deputy national chairman of IPAC, confirmed the consultation with the parties and the consensus reached, stating that the extension of campaigns will not confer any undue advantage on any of the parties.

The INEC chairman, Prof. Yakubu Mahmood, had, at an emergency meeting with stakeholders in Abuja on Saturday, hours after the commission announced the postponement of the polls, declared February 23 and March 9, 2019, as new dates for the elections.

Mahmood also declared that February 23, 2019 was sacrosanct. But he emphasised that campaigns, which had ended midnight, last Thursday, remained closed.

This infuriated the parties which threatened to go to court to challenge the ban.

However, the lifting of the ban, this Monday, has offered the parties a reprieve as they can now restrategise to cover lost grounds.

Below is the press statement by INEC, lifting the ban:

INEC’s press statement re-opening campaigns-1
INEC’s press statement re-opening campaigns-2

 

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