INEC urges political parties to avoid defamatory statements

Ahead of the start of political campaigns on Wednesday, Independent National Electoral Commission Chairman Mahmood Yakubu urged registered political parties to be careful about the languages ​​used during their campaigns, especially against their oppositions. < /p>

This is how he advised the parties to critically study the provisions of the Constitution, the Electoral Law, the Police Law and the Public Order Law public for the correct and peaceful conduct of political campaigns, rallies and processions.

Yakubu said so Monday in his remarks at a two-day capacity-building workshop for the INEC press corps on critical issues of the 2022 Election Law and the Commission's processes, innovations and preparations for the 2023 General Election Elections.

INEC, in line with the guideline for the 2023 general elections, is expected to lift the ban on political campaigning on Wednesday, September 28, 2022.

The Commission has published the final list of nominees for the national elections (presidential and vice-presidential candidates, senators and candidates for the House of Representatives).

Speaking at the workshop, the President who was represented by INEC National Commissioner Festus Okoye noted that campaigns should be focused on achieving what politicians would do when elected and not on the chagrin of the opposition. parties.

He said: "We urge all 18 registered political parties to critically study and pay attention to the provisions of the Constitution, Election Law, Police Law and public order law for the proper and peaceful conduct of political campaigns, rallies and processions.A political campaign or slogan shall not be tainted with abusive language likely to directly or indirectly hurt religious, ethnic, tribal or sectoral.

“Abusive, libelous, defamatory or vulgar language or innuendo designed or likely to provoke a violent reaction or emotion shall not be employed or used in political campaigning. Let me also remind the media of their constitutional and legal obligations. »

Describing the workshop as timely, Yakubu advised the press to provide equal coverage and visibility to all political parties, noting that the media is an indispensable partner in the electoral process and that they provide a real platform and avenue for disseminating election information to the Nigerian public.

He said: "This workshop is timely as preparations for the holding of the 2023 general elections, which are only 152 days away, have reached an advanced and critical stage. It is therefore important that the media, especially the INEC Press Corp, have a good knowledge and understanding of the workings and operations of the Commission.

“The state apparatus, including the media, should not be used to the advantage or disadvantage of any political party or candidate for election. In other words, equal coverage and visibility should be given to all political parties by all print and electronic public media. The same applies to private media subject to the payment of appropriate royalties.

"INEC's press corps are an indispensable partner in the electoral process and they provide a true platform and avenue for the dissemination of electoral information to the Nigerian public."

Speaking at the event, Lagos State Resident Electoral Commissioner Olusegun Agbaje advised the media to shun corruption and avoid any form of taint in order to make account of free and fair elections.

Agbaje noted that the press must ensure that the three parties (voters, politicians and INEC) play their respective roles to ensure elections without violence.

He said: "In the context of elections for the purposes of this workshop, three parties need to be identified: the electorates (voters), the candidates (politicians) and the arbiter (INEC), situating the roles of media professionals in ensuring that all three parties in an election play their respective roles in a way that will ensure credible, transparent, free, fair and violence-free elections.

“It follows therefore that for a watchdog to be effective in his duty; he must cleanse himself, avoid corruption and avoid all forms of defilement and defilement. This is probably the first role the media must play in ensuring free and fair elections for Nigerians in the 2023 general elections.”