On September 28, 2022, campaigns for the presidency and the National Assembly began in all 36 States of the Nigerian federation by all registered political parties and their candidates.
In advance of the general elections in 2023, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced a schedule. This is in accordance with that schedule.
Remember that the INEC had announced that while the campaign for the governorship and State Houses of Assembly will start on October 12, the campaign for the presidential and National Assembly elections would start on September 28, 2022.
In order to ensure legal compliance, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, the chairman of INEC, committed on Thursday to monitor the campaigns and expenditures of political parties for the general elections in 2023.
He was addressing in Abuja during the signing of the agreement for a nonviolent campaign, which was sponsored by the National Peace Committee (NPC).
Yakubu claimed that this was done to make sure that parties avoided using derogatory language and adhered to the election expenditure caps.
Yakubu stated that the Electoral Act of 2022, as modified, mandated that political parties’ public campaigns begin no earlier than 150 days before to election day, with the national elections’ official campaigning beginning on September 28.
He stated that, “the implication is that for the next 148 days, political parties, candidates and their supporters are free to traverse the country holding meetings, rallies, processions and door-to-door campaigns.
“They will grant interviews, sponsor indoor and outdoor advertisements and publish other campaign materials. This is often a delicate period characterized by excitement and anxiety.
“In line with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 and in our determination to play our role as a regulator, the Commission will vigorously monitor compliance.
“To ensure that parties shun abusive, intemperate or slanderous language as well as insinuations or innuendoes likely to provoke a breach of the peace during the electioneering campaigns”.
The panel set the dates for the presidential and national assembly elections for February 23, 2023, and the gubernatorial and state house of assemblies elections for March 11, 2022.
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Political activities are already beginning to take shape in Abia State, particularly in Umuahia, the state’s capital, and Aba, its commercial hub. These activities are part of the state’s preparation for the official start of electioneering campaigns by candidates of major dominant political parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), All Progressives Congress (APC), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Labour Party (LP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Young Peoples Party (YPP).
According to PulseNets, the Labour Party is now a significant influence on a national level, therefore things are no longer as they used to be in Abia. The PDP has dominated politics up to this point, making Abia a one-party state. But now everything has changed. The general election of 2023 will be a turning point since key politicians in the State are terrified of the LP’s “Obidients.”
When PulseNets paid a visit to the PDP, APC, and LP secretariats in Abia over the weekend, it was clear that things were well under way because State officials from these political parties were seen finalising plans for the start of their electioneering campaigns, particularly the governorship campaigns.
The All Progressives Congress chieftain and former member of the House of Representatives, Chief Hon. Nze Chiekwe Esiaga, reiterated the party’s determination and readiness to win all levels of political leadership positions in the upcoming general elections in Abia State in 2023 in an interview on Tuesday.
He argued that the PDP, the state’s current government, had failed to uphold the mandates that the electorate had given it.
The former lawmaker claimed that if his party (the APC) were elected to power in 2023, it would be ready to rewrite the history of Abia State’s government and give the people the socioeconomic and infrastructure projects they needed to improve their welfare and the state’s growth.
During the ongoing electioneering campaigns, which have recently been lifted by the INEC ahead of the upcoming elections across 184 electoral wards of the seventeen local government areas of Abia State, Esiaga also urged candidates of all political parties to refrain from using blackmail, cheap propaganda, character assassination, hate speech, and other divisive tactics. Instead, they should concentrate on their individual plans to foster the necessary economic growth and infrastructure development in the State.
According to him, “I want to call on all political parties and their candidates to be civil and conduct themselves in good and proper manner for us to ensure we achieve peaceful elections in Abia and other States.
“We must not escalate the heightened insecurity already being experienced in many parts of the country, rather we must always promote whatever that will boost development in Abia State and Nigeria as a whole”.
A member of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief ThankGod Ugwumsinachi emphasised the importance of smooth campaigning for political parties’ candidates ahead of the 2023 elections in Abia State during an interview with our correspondent.
The party elder recommended issue-based campaigns from political parties and the entire political elite in the State and the nation.
He grieved that the All Progressives Congress and President Muhammadu Buhari had shown an utter lack of ability and resources to relieve the country’s population of unimaginable hardships, extreme poverty, insecurity, inflation, and the entire collapse of all democratic institutions of governance.
According to Ugwumsinachi, “we will no longer afford to allow APC to take over the affairs of this great country. People are now wise enough, not to be deceived or lured into voting based on party backgrounds during elections. They are out to enthrone competence in the governance of Abia State.”
He urged Abia voters to use their permanent voter cards (PVC) to choose reputable candidates and individuals who have the necessary capacity, knowledge, and expertise to deal with many of the problems affecting the State and its surroundings.
He further warned them to abstain from bribery, name-calling, and any other type of money inducement.
His words: “The general election is most significant in the sense that there would be improvement in our electoral process. I thank INEC for the credibility it has so far demonstrated. I urge all candidates and their parties to display utmost cooperation with INEC, and adhere strictly with provisions of the 1999 constitution of Nigeria, and the nation’s Electoral Act.
“My expectation is that the 2023 election will be crime-free, devoid of anarchy, lawlessness, violence, manipulation and unwholesome interference by cabals.
“We must bear the interest of the people at heart. The security of lives and properties should be utmost in our mind. This time around, Nigerians must get it right.”
Chief Amobi Ogah of the Labour Party in Abia State brought a lawsuit on behalf of peaceful and civil election campaigns.
Additionally, he encouraged political candidates from all parties to avoid smear campaigns, character assassinations, cheap propaganda, and blackmail.
“We must insist on conduct of credible and acceptable elections come 2023, elections which shall reflect the true will of the Abia electorates
“All candidates should come forward and tell the people of Abia State what they would do in addressing the numerous problems hindering infrastructural growth of the State”.
Ogah added that, “this coming election is significant in the sense that the present youth generation would change the ugly narrative in Abia’s governance by ensuring that they vote in candidates with visionary plans, the needed capacity and the requisite competence in solving the fundamental leadership problems in the State.”
