INEC releases campaign rules and offers advises to parties on programmes

The publication and release of guidelines for the conduct of political gatherings, processions, and campaigns, as well as for the finances and election expenses of political parties, candidates, and aspirants, have been approved by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

It consequently exhorted political parties to focus their campaigns on registered voters.

The parties were urged by INEC to make voters aware of their programs, policies, and projects.

The rule said, in part, “Registered voters shall be the target audience of political campaigns.

“Except for a police officer or a member of a security service authorized to carry arms and specifically posted to be present at that political campaign, no person attending a political campaign shall be in possession of any offensive weapon.”

The electoral umpire also upheld the N50 million limit on the total sum of money or other assets that a person, a group of people, or an organization may donate to a political party or candidate in an election.

“Except for a police officer or a member of a security service authorized to carry arms and specifically posted to be present at that political campaign, no person attending a political campaign shall be in possession of any offensive weapon.”

The electoral umpire also upheld the N50 million limit on the total sum of money or other assets that a person, a group of people, or an organization may donate to a political party or candidate in an election.

“A political party shall not accept any monetary or other contribution which is in excess of N50,000,000 unless it identifies and discloses the source of the contribution to the Commission,” the document continued.

“Where there is a disagreement over the date, location, or timing of the activities of various political parties, their representatives shall meet in front of the Commission and the Nigeria Police to amicably address the matter.

“Where the parties are unable to resolve the conflict amicably between themselves, the Commission shall request the political party that submitted its notice and police approval or, where the presence of the police representative is not possible at the time, prove of written approval of the Commissioner of Police that is earliest in time shall be a guide to resolve the conflict and later in time to reschedule its campaign.”

Remember that INEC has made fixes the maximum election expenses that a contender may incur during a presidential election are capped by INEC at N5 billion.

While Section 88(8) states that “No individual or other entity shall donate to a candidate more than N50,000,” it also states that “The maximum amount of election costs to be expended by a candidate in respect of gubernatorial election shall not exceed N1,000,000,000.”