Political parties and politicians in Bauchi State have been warned against wiping up religious sentiments in their campaigns or face a N1 million penalty and a 12 month jail term.
This warning was handed down by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, because of allegations that some politicians were threatening some Peoples Democratic Party, PDP supporters in Darazo Local Government Area of the state based on their choice of presidential candidate.
The Bauchi State Administrative Secretary of INEC, Mr. Emmanuel Umenger, stated this yesterday at an interactive session with stakeholders in the local government.
The session, which attracted traditional leaders, security agents, NYSC members and party leaders, was in continuation of the commission’s familiarization tour of the 20 local government areas in the state.
Umenger said the tour was to enlighten stakeholders at the local governments on INEC’s level of preparedness for the general elections and also to seek for the support of the electorate in ensuring a successful process.
He said INEC was against electioneering campaigns based on religious sentiments, warning that any political party caught in the act will be prosecuted.
The INEC secretary said: “Section 102 of the electoral act as amended frowns against campaigns based on religious sentiments. Campaigns by political parties should be issue- based rather than along religious lines.
“The commission is equally against political parties intimidating the electorate based on their choice of candidates. Electorates are always at liberty to vote for any candidate they chose and should not be threatened because of their choices.”
Speaking at the interactive session, the new state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Professor Hamman Tukur Sa’ad frowned at the intimidation of the electorate, saying that any threat to life or property should be reported to security agencies. He also warned against political violence, urging local government authorities not interfere in the electoral process.
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