ILORIN – The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara, has accused Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of violating the electoral act by campaigning before the stipulated time.
Chief Rex Olawoye, the state Publicity Secretary of the party, made the accusation on Sunday in Ilorin in a statement made available to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
He said that Ahmed, his aides and the APC had been going around the state campaigning for second term for the governor under the cover of town hall meeting.
He noted that section 99 (1-3) of the electoral act stipulated that public campaign by political parties shall commence 90 days before the day of the election.
He called on INEC and the Police to sanction both the governor and the APC for violating the Electoral Act.
Olawoye claimed the campaigns would confer unfair advantage on the APC over and above other political parties.
“We are disappointed that Gov. Ahmed, who should be in the forefront of ensuring strict observance of the rule of law is the person who is openly indulging in the violation of the law,” he said.
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He said that it was hasty for the APC to start open campaigns through town hall meetings, erecting billboards and printing posters urging voters to vote for the party.
“By these deliberate actions, the governor and his aides have exhibited gross abuse of executive power by leading their party to prematurely commence campaign for the 2015 elections in violation of the law,” he added.
The PDP spokesman also accused the APC and Gov. Ahmed of using public funds to campaign for his second term bid.
He expressed concern why the governor suddenly decided to hold town hall meetings seven months to the expiration of his first tenure.
“The good news though is that at all the places visited so far, particularly in Offa, Ajase-Ipo, Oyun, the people have risen in unison to reject the APC and its various obnoxious policies.
“The people have spoken in clear, unambiguous terms that never again shall they be taken for a ride by a government that has mounted more billboards than roads and classrooms.
“It is in the light of the above that we ask INEC to assert its authority by sanctioning Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed and the APC for breaching the Electoral Act,” Olawoye said.
Olawoye suggested that town hall meetings should be converted to avenues where the people are sensitised on the dangers of the dreaded Ebola virus and precautionary measures to take.
He warned that if INEC refused to act, the commission would lose the moral authority to prevent other parties from taking laws into their hands. (NAN)
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