Is this for Real? INEC To Jail Presidential Candidates That Spend Above N1bn On Campaign

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it had taken measures to track campaign expenditure incurred by political parties as it lifted ban on election campaigns.

The electoral body said it will sanction presidential aspirants that spend above N1billion on campaign. The Chief Press Secretary to the INEC chairman, Kayode Idowu, on Monday in Abuja stated this in an interview with journalists following the lifting of the ban on election campaigns.

“According to section 91 of the Electoral Act, 2010 as amended, the maximum expenses to be incurred by a candidate at a presidential election shall be N1 billion; for governorship, it is N200 million and the act also stipulated sanctions for candidate who flaunted the campaign spending limits.

“The sanction for presidential election is N1 million or 12 months imprisonment or both and for governor, N800,000 or nine months or both.

NAN reports that in line with the electoral timetable released by INEC, presidential and National Assembly aspirants of political parties are allowed to commence campaign from November 16.

Similarly, the ban on campaign by governorship and state House of Assembly aspirants is expected to be lifted on November 30, Pm News reports.