Ahead of the 2018 governorship election in Ekiti state, the new Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Prof. Abdul-Ganiyu Raji, has threatened to invoke the relevant section of the electoral laws against politicians “who are currently engaged in subtle or overt campaigns before the constitutionally stipulated time.”
Raji warned that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) “won’t hesitate to invoke Section 99 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), which forbids electioneering campaign until 90 days to election against any political party and individuals flouting the law, no matter how highly placed.”
He said the punishment for the unlawful action, which some politicians complained about, was common to the two major political parties in the
state, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was six months jail term or N500, 000 fine, if taken to court.
Raji was brought to Ekiti last month to replace Mr. Sam Olumekun, who was transferred to Edo state prior to 2015 governorship poll.
Speaking after a stakeholders’ meeting with politicians in Ado Ekiti yesterday, he said the prohibition “will cover jingles being aired on the radio and television as well as the billboards erected at strategic locations, bearing the portraits of aspirants announcing or advertising their governorship intentions.”
Raji’s riot act came to fore following complaints from some political parties that the PDP and APC were allegedly using state and federal media to gain undue advantage.
