He said the ban on campaign was still on and until it is lifted, it is illegal for any party or politician to commence campaign. Yakubu said INEC has also reached understanding with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to prosecute more corrupt staff in 21 states who were involved in the 2015 poll bribery scam. He said the EFCC was currently prosecuting 205 interdicted staff of the Commission from16 states. On the recall of Senator Dino Melaye, the INEC chairman said the agency would proceed courageously with the process. Yakubu, who spoke at the quarterly Consultative Meeting with the media in Abuja, described such campaign contravention as illegal. Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, had last Thursday declared his intention to vie for the presidency in 2019, contrary to Section 99 of the Electoral Act 201 (as amended). The section says: “For the purpose of this Act, the period of campaigning in public by every political party shall commence 90 days before polling day.” But the INEC chairman warned politicians and political parties against jumping the gun. He said: “We want to draw the attention of political parties and candidates that are already going round the country campaigning for 2019 that INEC, the only agency responsible for the release of timetable and schedule of activities, hasn’t done so. “And anything that anybody does is illegal under the law. We should wait for the timetable for the campaign. “The release of timetable does not mean the commencement of campaign.” Yakubu also revealed that the Commission was doing everything humanly possible to ensure that the 2019 elections are credible, including complete overhaul of the personnel. He stressed that INEC under his watch was prepared to rid the Commission of corrupt elements. He added: “Whatever we have to do, we will do. Even if it means going back to before 2015, getting rid of everybody and the Commission starting afresh for the purpose of 2019.” “I want to say this, that this is the first Commission in the history of our elections that, in one fell swoop, disciplined 205 staff based on interim report from Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) covering 16 states. Going by the condition of service, INEC is empowered to interdict them. It means that they are placed on half salary and suspended from work until their innocence or guilt is established. The report covered 16 states. “Only last week or so I learnt the EFCC has started prosecuting the staff. So this process is ongoing.”]]>
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