The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has warned political parties as well as politicians in Akwa Ibom State that the ban on campaigns has not been lifted ahead of the 2027 elections.
The Akwa Ibom Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, of INEC, Prof. Anugbum Onuoha, who issued the warning at a press conference on Wednesday, said almost all the political parties in the state are culpable of early campaigns.
The REC warned that the commission would invoke all the necessary provisions of the extant laws to prosecute any party that further engages in premature campaigns.
He also reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to credible, free and fair elections in 2027.
“I want to inform all the political parties and their supporters in Akwa Ibom that ban on campaigns have not been lifted. Campaigning in violation of the Electoral Act would not be tolerated by the commission and all political actors are expected to operate within the provisions of the law to ensure a peaceful and orderly electoral process,” he said
While calling on the people to take advantage of the third phase of the Continuous Voter Registration, CVR, exercise to either register or collect their Permanent Voter Card, PVC, the REC said so far 163,635 PVCs have been collected in the first and second phases in the state.
Noting that 76,534 cards were distributed in the first phase and 87,101 cards in the second phase, he described the figures as abysmal considering the number of registrants and population of the state.
Onuoha who noted that the third phase had commenced on May 11 across all the 31 Local Government Areas of the State said the exercise will end on July 10.
He urged those who registered in 2011 but their cards were defaced and those who weren’t up to 18 years at the time to avail themselves of the opportunity and register even as he cautioned against double registration.
The REC also warned that no form of electoral malpractices would be tolerated, calling on all stakeholders to cooperate with the commission to serve them better.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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