The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, on Monday, issued guidelines for the commencement of campaign for the 2023 general elections.

This was announced by the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Malam Garba Attahiru, in Ilorin during a stakeholders meeting.

Malam Garba Attahiru, was represented by the INEC Administrative Secretary, Mr Julius Yagba, who said that 14 activities had been successfully implemented, and the 14th been the publication of the final list of nominated candidates by INEC on September 20, 2022.

According to him, “campaigns for the offices of president and national assembly will commence on September 28, and the governorship and state house of assembly will commence on October 12.

“Relying on Section 92 of the Electoral Act, 2022, the commission expects the political campaigns to be civil, devoid of abusive language and without any rancour. Section 92 of the Electoral Act 2022, forbids any political campaign or slogan tainted with abusive language directly or indirectly or one likely to injure religious, ethnic, tribal or sectional feelings.

“Therefore abusive, intemperate, slanderous or base language or insinuations or innuendoes intended or likely to provoke violent reactions or emotion should be avoided.

“Parties and candidates are to avoid training or enlisting the services of individuals or groups, e.g. masquerades, for the purpose of adopting physical force or coercion in a manner likely to arouse apprehension during campaigns.

“He, therefore, warned politicians against the use of armed private security organisations during campaigns or election processions,” NAN.