Anambra Poll: INEC Reads Electoral Offences To Governorship Candidates, Voters
Less than 24-hours to the Anambra State governorship election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has read out punishable electoral offences for contestants and voters participating in the poll.
The electoral body warned that contestants must not “Canvas for votes, solicit for the vote of any voter, persuade any voter not to vote for any particular candidate, persuade any voter not to vote at the election, shout slogans concerning the election.”
Also, INEC restated that contestants and their supporters must not “be in possession of any offensive weapon or wear any dress or have any facial or other decoration which in any event is calculated to intimidate voters.”
Similarly, contestants and their supporters must not “exhibit, wear or render any notice, symbol, photograph or party card referring to the election; use any vehicle bearing the colour or symbol of a political party by any means whatsoever.”
INEC further warned that no contestant, their supporters or voters should “Loiter without excuse after voting or after being refused to vote; snatch or destroy any election materials, and blare a siren.”
The commission hadcommenced the distribution of election materials to 21 local government areas of Anambra State on Thursday ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.
The election materials were being distributed at the Central Bank of Nigeria, Awka, Anambra State.
The election is expected to be a test of the country’s democratic process and the ability of INEC to conduct free and fair elections.
According to INEC, a total of 2,802,790 registered voters are eligible to participate, including 140,370 newly registered voters across 326 wards.
The election will take place in 5,718 polling units, as two out of the expected 5,720 units have no registered voters.
Sixteen political parties have fielded candidates for the governorship race, including two women.
Hafsoh Isiaq is a graduate of Linguistics. An avid writer committed to creative, high-quality research and news reportage. She has considerable experience in writing and reporting across a variety of platforms including print and online.
