2023: APC reacts to Umahi's 5 million naira fine
The Ebonyi State All Progressives Congress (APC) has responded to the party being fined in the state for violating Governor Dave Umahi's Executive Order on Political Campaigns.
State Information Commissioner Uchenna Orji said in a statement on Sunday that Mr Umahi had ordered the state APC to pay a fine of N5 million for the breach.< /p>
The governor, a member of the APC, had in November issued Executive Order III, which prohibits political parties from using public places for political activities without seeking and obtaining permission from the government of State.
The public places mentioned in the decree are schools, parks and markets, among others.
The order also prohibits political parties from posting campaign posters on state “critical infrastructure” without obtaining government permission.
Mr. Orji, a lawyer, said that although the Peoples Democratic Party, Labor Party and the Grand Alliance of All Progressives also violated the order, the governor forgave them and then punished the APC for setting an example. and serve as a deterrent to others.
Reacting to the governor's sanction, state APC chairman Stanley Okoro-Emegha said the party would pay the fine since the sanction was enforced by state law.
“If the state government says the APC broke the law by posting posters in an indecent manner, we can do nothing but pay the fine. The law transcends party,” he told PREMIUM TIMES on Monday.
When asked if he was disturbed that the governor had pardoned other political parties who had violated the order, Mr Okoro-Emegaha replied that the governor had the power to pardon.
“If he (Umahi) decided to punish his own, that is leadership by example. Charity begins at home, as they said,” he said.
The APC president, however, said the party would need to see where the posters were posted and determine that they were posted in violation of the order.
He further stated that the party would sanction candidates whose posters were posted in violation of the state order.
The Ebonyi State All Progressives Congress (APC) has responded to the party being fined in the state for violating Governor Dave Umahi's Executive Order on Political Campaigns.
State Information Commissioner Uchenna Orji said in a statement on Sunday that Mr Umahi had ordered the state APC to pay a fine of N5 million for the breach.< /p>
The governor, a member of the APC, had in November issued Executive Order III, which prohibits political parties from using public places for political activities without seeking and obtaining permission from the government of State.
The public places mentioned in the decree are schools, parks and markets, among others.
The order also prohibits political parties from posting campaign posters on state “critical infrastructure” without obtaining government permission.
Mr. Orji, a lawyer, said that although the Peoples Democratic Party, Labor Party and the Grand Alliance of All Progressives also violated the order, the governor forgave them and then punished the APC for setting an example. and serve as a deterrent to others.
Reacting to the governor's sanction, state APC chairman Stanley Okoro-Emegha said the party would pay the fine since the sanction was enforced by state law.
“If the state government says the APC broke the law by posting posters in an indecent manner, we can do nothing but pay the fine. The law transcends party,” he told PREMIUM TIMES on Monday.
When asked if he was disturbed that the governor had pardoned other political parties who had violated the order, Mr Okoro-Emegaha replied that the governor had the power to pardon.
“If he (Umahi) decided to punish his own, that is leadership by example. Charity begins at home, as they said,” he said.
The APC president, however, said the party would need to see where the posters were posted and determine that they were posted in violation of the order.
He further stated that the party would sanction candidates whose posters were posted in violation of the state order.
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