INEC Cautions Bauchi Politicians Against Campaigns

The Resident Electoral Commissioner of Bauchi State, Samuel Usman, on May 14, 2014, Wednesday, warned all the politicians to stay away from political campaigns, as it is still prohibited in the state.

Usman pointed out that the rules governing campaigns were very much understood and that the commission is yet to declare the current electoral period open.

The commissioner reminded the politicians in the state that starting campaigns for political positions earlier than three months to elections is illegal and carries consequences.

According to Usman, INEC has, however, noticed that certain politicians have already started campaigns through sponsored programmes, poster and radio jingles.

“INEC has made it clear that the time for political campaign is not yet on, but we noticed that many politicians in the state have started it through pasting of their posters.

“We cannot be the judge and prosecutor at the same time, so we call on the authorities concerned to call the defaulters to order,” he said.

INEC had earlier in the year issued statements that banned politicians from continuing their campaigns and calling on them to wait till the appropriate time to continue, especially politicians in Taraba state who went all out to put up campaign posters and billboards.

The electoral commission had also stated that politicians who defied the campaign rules were susceptible to a fine of N500,000 each.

Politicians in the state have however turned a deaf ear to the warnings and have continued to campaign through erected billboards and posters which can be seen all over the streets and even villages of Bauchi.

Source: Legit.ng