As campaign for the 2027 Presidential and National Assembly elections officially begins on the nineteenth of this month, politicians in the country have been advised to guard their utterances capable of setting the country ablaze.
Chief Legal Officer, Niger State Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, Barrister Zangana Sunday Gbaje, stated this while presenting paper on “Acts that constitute Election Campaign Offences under the Electoral act 2026” during the stakeholders engagement on Electioneering Campaign For The 2027 Presidential And National Assembly Election held in Minna.
Barrister Zangana Gbaje explained that peace is the prerequisite for any meaningful development, as without peace there will be no democracy while Nigerians also cannot enjoy the dividend of democracy, thus the need for politicians to play the game of politics according to the rule of engagement to achieve the desired objective.
According to him no person no matter how highly placed is allowed under the constitution of Nigeria to contribute more than five hundred million naira to the candidate seeking elective position, while stressing that twenty four hours before the election, campaigns must be stopped including the airing of jingles by radio stations
Barrister Zangana Gbaje said section ninety two of the electoral act as amended a Presidential candidate is allowed to spend ten billion naira for campaign, three billion naira for Governors, five hundred million for Senate, two hundred and fifty million naira for House of Representatives and ten million naira for councillors, while violation of the act attracts one percent of total money as fine, one year improvement or both.
Presenting the second paper on “Political Party Campaign Finance Tracking” a Director of INEC, Ibrahim Alawa explained that the Commission will monitor the amount spent and travelling expenses among others by candidates seeking elective positions to endure strict compliance with the electoral act provision.
Commissioner of Police in charge of Niger state represented by the Deputy Commissioner of Police Operations, Yakubu Isah while responding to a question raised by a stakeholder, assured of the commitment of security agencies to ensure that the political space is secured for the commencement of political activities towards achieving a hitch free election.
COV ALIYU LAWAL.
