×

Elections Postponement: PDP Rejects Prohibition Of Campaigns By INEC

The PDP has said that the postponement of dates for the elections, gives the parties a new window for campaigns, hence, the reason they will be reopening their campaigns.


 

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has said that it will reopen its campaigns following the postponement of elections by INEC.

In a statement on Sunday by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party said the electoral umpire erred in saying that campaigns remain closed.

Mr Ologbondiyan noted that such administrative pronouncement was erroneous, directly in conflict with the provision of the Electoral Act and is not backed by any other law in our country.

He stressed that the party’s position is hinged upon the provision of section 99 (1) of the Electoral Act which stipulated that “for the purposes 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”.

The PDP said that  INEC’s administrative pronouncement conflicts with the Electoral Act, adding that such administrative pronouncement must bow before the law.

READ ALSO: Falana Slams FG, INEC, Parties Over ‘Shameful Postponement Of General Elections’

Below is a full statement by the PDP as published by Kola Ologbondiyan.

“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), after due consideration of the provision of the Electoral Act, is set to reopen its open campaigns consequent upon the postponement of Presidential and National Assembly elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from the earlier scheduled date of February 16 to February 23, 2019.

The party rejects the wrongful administrative prohibition of open campaigns by INEC, holding that such administrative pronouncement was erroneous, directly in conflict with the provision of the Electoral Act and is not backed by any other law in our country.

Our position is predicated on the clear provision of section 99 (1) of the Electoral Act which stipulated that “for the purposes 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”.

The clear import of this provision, in the current situation, is that given the postponement of the election to February 23, 2019, the 24 hours requirement for closure of all public campaigning falls at midnight of February 21.

The PDP reminds INEC that whenever its administrative pronouncement conflicts with the Electoral Act, such administrative pronouncement must bow before the law. The party charges INEC to be appropriately guided while directing its members to await further directives ahead of its reopening of campaigns.

Signed:

Kola Ologbondiyan
National Publicity Secretary
And
Director, Media & Publicity
PDP Presidential Campaign Organization”