The publication and release of the guidelines for political campaigns; as well as election expenses of political parties, candidates and aspirants has been approved.
This Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, disclosed this in Abuja on Thursday.
Okoye said the commission also deliberated on the appointment of a Secretary to INEC and accordingly approved the appointment of Mrs. Rose Oriaran-Anthony, for a second and final term of four years, with effect from Dec. 7, in accordance with Section 8 of the Electoral Act, 2022.
“The commission approved the publication and release of the guidelines for the Conduct of Political Rallies, Processions and Campaigns as well as that of Finances and Election Expenses of political parties, Candidates and Aspirants.”
According to Okoye, the commission has uploaded the two documents to its website and social media handles copies of which would be made available to political parties, civil society groups, the media and other critical stakeholders.
He told political parties to submit the required reports to the commission in accordance with the provisions of Section 90(4) of the Electoral Act 2022 and the applicable sanctions for failure to comply as provided in Section 89(4) of the Electoral Act.
The INEC Secretary holds a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) degree in Language Arts from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, a Master’s degree in Public Administration (MPA) from the University of Abuja and another Masters’ degree in Public Communication and Public Relations from the University of Westminster, in the United Kingdom.
She is the second female Secretary of the commission and the first to have her tenure renewed.
She is a long-term staff of the Commission and has served as Public Affairs Officer, Assistant Director (Information and Publicity), Deputy Director (Voter Education) and Director (Civil Societies Liaison).
Her last posting was as an Administrative Secretary in Delta before her first appointment on December 5 2018.
Section 88 of the Electoral Act provides that “the maximum election expenses to be incurred by a candidate at a presidential election shall not exceed N5,000,000,000.
“The maximum amount of election expenses to be incurred by a candidate in respect of governorship election shall not exceed N1,000,000,000” while Section 88 (8) provides that “No individual or other entity shall donate to a candidate more than N50,000,000.”