members to resume campaigns following the postponement of the elections by
the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
INEC had on February 16, 2019, postponed the Presidential and National
Assembly elections to February 23, 2019.
CUPP in a statement signed by its Spokesman, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, he
said the decision was based on the Electoral Acts which stipulates that
Campaigns should end 24 hours before the elections.
The Statement reads:
“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 campaigns fields and
recommence campaigns and end by midnight of Thursday 21st February, 2019
as required by Law.
“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. INEC cannot on its own accord limit the period of
campaigns as it is regulated by law.
“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.