The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, has cautioned politicians against engaging in acts that have the potential of overheating the polity.
This is even as he urged the gladiators to imbibe the culture of promoting peaceful conduct in the polity. Jega gave the admonition in Abuja yesterday, while speaking at the third Quarterly Consultative Meeting between the commission and political parties.
He reminded the leaders of the parties of the provisions of Section 99(1) of the Electoral Act 2010, as amended, which he said, limits the period of campaign to 90 days, before the election proper.
The electoral boss warned that the penalties awaited violators of the said provision. He said: "As we inch along towards the 2015 general elections, we have been intensifying effort to ensure full readiness in all fundamental respects. We therefore continue to solicit your cooperation, partnership and support to ensure that we deliver free, fair and credible elections to Nigerians in 2015.
"In particular we urge you to do everything possible to sanitise the polity. You must have an enlightened self-interest, because keeping and sustaining our democracy is in the best interest of all politicians, as it is for all citizens. We must avoid the temptation to throw away the baby with the bath water. You must stop overheating the polity.
You must continue to promote peaceful conduct and civility in political engagements and electioneering. "You must stop the rising tendency towards thuggery in campaigns and elections. In recent bye-elections, we saw disruptions of the electoral process caused by thuggery. This must be stopped in order not to undermine our aspirations for credible and peaceful elections in 2015.
"Let me also use this opportunity to draw your attention to the following; political parties are reminded to be mindful of the provisions of Section 99(1) of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended which limits campaign periods to commence 90 days before polling day and end 24 hours to polling day. The penalty for breach is provided in Section 99(2) (a)& (b)."
On the presentation of candidates for elections, Jega said that, "INEC has received petitions against political parties that lack presence in some states, but habitually present candidates whenever byeelections are scheduled. Political parties are therefore urged to support our democratic growth by retracting their quest for elective offices to areas they have institutional presence."
