Femi Falana tells INEC to shift campaign date since election has been shifted

– Femi Falana SAN has called on INEC to shift the date for political campaign since the election has been shifted

– He also stated that the electoral body has no reason to shift the election

Leading Nigerian lawyer and Human right activist, Femi Falana SAN in a statement today has reacted to the postponement of the 2019 General Election.

Femi Falana in his statement on Channels Television on Sunday said there are provisions for which an election can be postponed, he however stated that the reasons stated by INEC was not one of them.

INEC had in the early hours of Saturday, which was few hours to the commencement of the 2019 Presidential Election announced the postponement of the 2019 General Election.

According to INEC, the election had to be postponed owing to some issues with logistics.

Femi Falana in his statement further disclosed that since the election has been postponed, INEC also need to shift the date for political campaign.

Below is an extract from the statement made by Femi Falana,

Meanwhile, INEC which has shifted the general election by 7 days is alleged to have turned round to ban political parties and their candidates from further campaigning for votes.

See More: Kingsley Moghalu reacts to postponed 2019 Presidential Election

With respect, INEC has not paid attention to Section 99 of the Electoral Act which provides that the period of campaigning in public by political parties shall end 24 hours before polling day. Since elections have been shifted the period of the campaign has also shifted and will end 24 hours to the new polling day.

Therefore, the limitation of campaign imposed by INEC should be reversed without any delay. Furthermore, INEC should comply with all valid and subsisting court orders with respect to the candidates sponsored by political parties for the general elections. Otherwise, the courts may annul some of the elections conducted by INEC on grounds of exclusion of qualified candidates”.

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