The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Kano, Prof. Risquwa Shehu, has warned against political parties hosting political campaigns, as the commission has not lifted the suspension of the act.
Current situation
Kano State is one of the 30 states in Nigeria whose gubernatorial elections fall in 2023. In the buildup to the 2023 elections, Kano State has recorded an increase in election related violence and insecurity as political parties’ representatives engage in political acrimonies during programs on radio stations in the state.
- According to Nigeria’s electoral body’s calendar, political campaigns for governorship elections will begin on October 12th, 2022.
- INEC added 3,148 voting points to the existing 8,074 polling units in the state. Kano State therefore now has a total of 11,222 polling units.
What they are saying
Kano REC, Prof. Shehu, while speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting of representatives from political parties, security agencies in the state, members of the Civil Society Organisations, CSOs and the media warned against political campaigns of any sort. He added that the developing trend of violence could disrupt the peaceful conduct of the 2023 general elections.
Meanwhile
The chairman of the information and voter education committee, Festus Okoye, urged all the political parties in Nigeria to abide by the electoral act 2022, or incur a ban from the 2023 general elections.
- He stated Section 82 (1) and (5) which requires political parties to provide the commission with legal notice of any convention or congress convened to nominate candidates for elective offices.