INEC said campaigns by aspirants and their parties are illegal.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Ekiti on Thursday banned political campaigns by parties and their aspirants ahead of the proposed governorship election this year.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Halilu Pai, announced this at a news conference held at the headquarters of the commission in Ado-Ekiti.

The commissioner said that campaigns by aspirants and their parties were illegal. He urged security agents to remove campaign billboards and posters while jingles placed on radio and television stations should be stopped.

Mr. Pai said the commission was compelled to take these measures in the face of the crisis arising from allegations and counter-allegations over defacement of billboards and posters.

“Let me warn that display of billboards, posters canvassing for votes in an election whose actual date is yet to be fixed are contrary to the provisions of the electoral law.

“Such displays under whatever guise and through whatever medium is hereby declared illegal as they have already contravened the provisions of the law,’’ he said.

He assured that the commission is ready to conduct a free, fair, and credible poll; adding that stakeholders must cooperate with it.

Mr. Pai said the commission would soon announce the actual date of the election, number of political parties that would participate, as well as commencement date of campaigns.

He said arrangements were on to ensure that all those who had either lost their cards or had attained the voting age of 18 are not disenfranchised.

The commissioner also said INEC is working on the creation of additional polling units in the state so as to reduce cases of congestion during elections.

(NAN)