On the 17th of November, the electoral governing body for Nigeria, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), announced that candidates running for president and parliamentary positions may begin their election campaigns on the 18th of November, 2018.

The commission announced this in a statement released on Saturday night by its Director Of Voter Education and Publicity, Mr Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, who said:

“Political parties who fielded candidates for both elections [will] commence campaigns across the country.

“This is in line with the Timetable and Schedule of Activities issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and in accordance with Section 99(1) of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended) which provides that “the period of campaigning in public by every political party shall commence 90 days before polling day and end 24 hours prior to that day.”

He warned political parties to conduct their activities in “an organised and peaceful manner, devoid of rancour, hate and/or inflammatory speeches.”

The electoral body, relying on the Constitution and the Electoral Act, released the time table and schedule of activities for the 2019 elections since the 9th January 2018, and has stuck to it despite pressure on it to change it and uncertainty with the Electoral Bill amendment.

The Electoral Act, as amended, states in 99(1) that “For the purpose of this Act, the period of campaigning in public by every political party shall commence 90 days before polling day and end 24 hours prior to that day.” 

However, some political parties have shunned the Electoral Act’s stipulation for campaigning, and already started releasing campaign material before INEC’s announcement last weekend. The country’s foremost political parties, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have been especially notorious in contravening the Electoral Act in this way through its support groups. These groups have been sponsoring adverts in newspapers and on billboards, campaigning for their party’s candidates long before INEC’s announcement.

Unfortunately, the electoral commission has been unable to penalise the groups guilty of shunning this law so far.

In his press release, INEC’s Director Of Voter Education and Publicity also announced that campaigns for Governorship and State Houses of Assembly positions will commence on the 1st of December 2018.