CUPP dares INEC, asks parties to continue campaign

The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has asked its members to continue with their campaigns.

Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, CUPP spokesman, gave the directive in a statement on Sunday.

This is contrary to what Mahmood Yakubu, national chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), said in Abuja on Saturday.

While giving reasons for the poll shift, Yakubu said campaigns remain closed.

But Ugochinyere said section 99 of the electoral act provides that campaigns will end 24 hours to election.

The CUPP spokesman said INEC “cannot on its own accord limit the period of campaigns as it is regulated by law.”

“In view of the provisions of the section 99 of the electoral act , the over 51 member parties of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) hereby directs all members to return to the campaign fields and recommence campaigns and end by midnight of Thursday 21st February, 2019 as required by law,” he said.

“Section 99 (1) of the electoral act provides that public campaigns shall end 24 hours prior to the day of polling. It is therefore wrong to expect that political parties will stop campaigns on 14th February for polls that will open on 23rd February.

“It is unlawful and statutorily wrong to curtail the clear intendment of this section of the electoral act which is clear and unambiguous. Campaigning until 24 hours prior to the day of polling is a statutory right of parties and cannot be taken away, curtailed or abridged by any executive fiat.

“Member parties are hereby directed to continue campaigns from tomorrow and focus on voter remobilization and ensure that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is elected and declared winner of the Presidential election.”