Press zooms in on INEC’s code of conduct guiding campaigns by political parties, others

By Agence de Presse Africaine Last updated Sep 27, 2022

APA– Lagos The issuance of the code of conduct guiding the activities of political parties during campaigns by Independent National Electoral Commission ahead of the commencement of presidential campaigns tomorrow dominates the headlines of Nigerian newspapers on Tuesday. The Guardian reports that ahead of the commencement of presidential campaigns…

APA – Lagos (Nigeria) The issuance of the code of conduct guiding the activities of political parties during campaigns by Independent National Electoral Commission ahead of the commencement of presidential campaigns tomorrow dominates the headlines of Nigerian newspapers on Tuesday.

The Guardian reports that ahead of the commencement of presidential campaigns tomorrow, a code of conduct guiding activities has been issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The Commission warned that a political message or slogan must not be tainted with abusive language, directly or indirectly, likely to injure religious, ethnic, tribal or sectional feelings. INEC also said abusive, intemperate, slanderous or base language or innuendoes designed or likely to provoke violent reactions or emotions shall not be employed or used in political campaigns.

The electoral empire further warned incumbent political office holders against using the power of incumbency to deny opposition parties access to public facilities for campaigns. The Commission said such action was illegal and would attract sanctions as spelt out in the Electoral Act 2022.

INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, gave the warning at a sensitisation forum for broadcasters and stakeholders on fair and responsible coverage of the 2023 general elections organised by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) in Abuja.

The code of conduct was also unveiled to newsmen, yesterday, at a two-day capacity-building workshop for INEC Press Corp Members on critical issues in the Electoral Act 2022 and the Commission’s Processes, Innovations and Preparations for the 2023 General Elections in Abuja.

There had been reported cases of state governments denying opposition parties the use of public facilities for campaign during the electioneering period. Yakubu, however, maintained that Section 95 of the Electoral Act 2022 had defined the responsibilities of political parties and candidates, the media and public institutions and also provides sanctions for violations.

He noted that in the course of the Commission’s interactions with political parties, many have complained about the denial of access to public facilities for meetings and rallies, exorbitant charges for signages and billboards and equal access to state media.

The newspaper says that the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has stated that it has restored the national grid after its partial collapse on Monday.

Mrs Ndidi Mbah, TCN’s General Manager, Public Affairs made this known in a statement in Abuja.

Mbah said that the national grid experienced partial system disturbance at about 10.51 am, as a result of a sudden drop in system frequency, which created system instability.

She said that the restoration of the affected grid commenced immediately at 11.55 am with Osogbo/Ihovbor, followed by Jebba/Osogbo, Kainji/Jebba, Benin/Onitsha, Shiroro/Kaduna, Shiroro/Katampe and Alaoji/Ikot-Ekpene.

Others are Lokoja/Gwagwalada, Odukpani/Ikot Ekpene, Benin/Omotosho, Oke-Aro/Ikeja west, Egbin/Oke-Aro and Kaduna/Kano.

She said the grid restoration has almost been completed, adding that the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) regrets any inconveniences caused.

Mbah said NESI appreciated the understanding of electricity customers within and outside the country.

According to her, NESI is committed to leveraging the concerted interventions instituted so far to enhance power supply reliability so that the issue of system disturbance will soon become outdated.

She said the National Control Centre would launch a full-scale investigation “to establish and ascertain the cause of the partial disturbance as this unwholesome event has resulted in aggregated generation loss.”

The Punch reports that in line with the International Maritime Organisation’ determination to achieve sustainable development in the maritime industry, the Federal Government has said that Nigeria is committed to achieving greener shipping.

A statement by the Assistant Directors, Public Relations, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Osagie Edward, quoted the Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Sambo, to have said this, as the country join IMO to commemorate the 2022 World Maritime Day.

Sambo also said that Nigeria would not be left behind in the global move towards greener shipping, while also reflecting on the need for stakeholders in the maritime sector to begin exploring ways to transition into a greener and more sustainable future.

On his part, the Director-General, NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, noted that the theme for this year’s world Maritime Day celebration is in line with the agency’s mission of achieving cleaner oceans in developing shipping in Nigeria.

He also pointed out that NIMASA is already working in line with the call by IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim for developing countries to adopt green technology.

According to the IMO Secretary General, “The World Maritime Day theme 2022 “New technologies for greener shipping” reflects the need to support a green transition of the maritime sector into a sustainable future, while leaving no one behind. The theme provides an opportunity to focus on the importance of sustainable maritime sector and the need to build back better and greener in a post pandemic world.

Nigeria, represented by NIMASA, as an active member state of the IMO is involved in the processes of creating new international agreements and protocols to address environmental issues such as marine pollution, oil spills and emissions from the shipping industry.”

The theme of this year’s World Maritime Day is linked to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals particularly, SDGs 13 and 14 on climate action and sustainable use of the oceans, seas and marine resources; SDG 9 on industry, innovation and infrastructure; and SDG 17, which highlights the importance of partnerships and implementation to achieve these goals.

The newspaper says that the committee for the African Continental Free Trade Area has said that Nigeria will be participating fully in the agreement by the last quarter of 2023.

The secretary of the committee, Mr Francis Anatogu, in an exclusive telephone chat with THE PUNCH on Monday, said that some trading documents were needed before Nigeria’s full participation.

He said the documents were currently going through gazetting processes.

“The update is that for us to begin, there are some trading documents that we now need to dissect.

“Those documents actually came last week, so they are still with the Customs. The gazetting processes will commence and once it is gazetted, it will be published.

GIK/APA