Political parties in Ebonyi to disqualify candidates who violate INEC guidelines

 Political parties in Ebonyi State have threatened to disqualify any candidate who violates the decisions and guidelines of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on campaigns.

DAILY POST reports that INEC, Ebonyi State, had in a meeting with all political parties, charged them to obey, observe and implement the new electoral laws on the process of campaigns in the state.

It was gathered that major political parties, especially the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, shunned the meeting which took place at the INEC office headquarters in the state.

The Special Assistant to Governor David Umahi on inter-party and labour matters, Mrs. Adibe Jennifer, who spoke to newsmen shortly after the meeting, said political parties have been directed not to victimize opponents during campaigns.

Adibe, who is also the state chairman of ADC in Ebonyi State noted that: “Political Parties have been advised to carry out their campaigns and not to victimize anyone. Campaigns have started and it is expected that we should observe all the guidelines provided by the new electoral laws on campaigns.

“We are going to play according to the rules and we will not carry out campaigns in the Churches and in police stations. We are not to victimize other political parties just because we want our own candidate to win.

“We are going to speak to our candidates concerning this rules, that if you go against the rule, you might be disqualified, even though your name has been published” he stated.

Earlier in a remark, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ebonyi, Dr. Chukwuemeka Chukwu, assured all political parties of conducting a transparent and credible election in the 2023 forthcoming general election.

“We called political parties to inform them of the dos and don’ts during campaigns. They should know their rights and should behave very well because the election shouldn’t be a do-or-die affair.

“They should operate in line with the new electoral laws of the land. We assure political parties of conducting a free, fair, transparent and credible election in the 2023 forthcoming general election” he stated.