Don’t Over-Heat Polity, Tambuwal, INEC Warn

The Speaker, House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, has cautioned politicians to refrain from overheating the polity ahead of the 2015 general elections.
Tambuwal gave the advice in Abuja yesterday when he received a delegation from the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) led by its President, Mr Okey Wali.
He urged politicians to conduct themselves with decorum and not to take the electorate for granted.
“Card carrying members of political parties are at best about 25 per cent of the Nigerian population. This 25 per cent should not hold the remaining 75 per cent in contempt.
“We should respect them and ensure that whatever we do in terms of politics, is done within the confines of the law and the constitution,’’ he said.
The speaker expressed dismay at the recent political events in the country, noting that if politicians played by the rules of the game, the problems could be avoided.
“What we are witnessing today is something that ordinarily should be avoided; we should as a matter of fact go back to the rules of engagement of the game.
“The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is yet to signal and allow for political activities to begin.
“Therefore, politicians should exercise some restraints and ensure that we only come out when it is time for us to do so,’’ he said.
Tambuwal said that political officeholders had abandoned governance for politicking and issues bothering on 2015.
“What we need at the moment is for all of us to pay attention to the various mandates we have been given and concentrate on our work and ensure that we deliver on those mandates.
“Whoever does well will receive kudos of Nigerians.
“When the time comes, if you do not do well, Nigerians will show you the way out through the ballot. It is a very simple practice of democracy.’’
Earlier, Wali had restated the association’s readiness to collaborate with the house, and urged the parliament to fast track the passage of sundry bills pending before it.
Similarly, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday warned politicians against overheating the polity ahead of the 2015 general elections.
Its Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega gave the warning in Abuja at the third quarterly meeting of the commission and political parties.
Jega advised them to stabilise the polity rather than overheating it, and urged them to have ‘’enlightened self interest’’.
He also warned them against breeding and using thugs during campaigns and elections, adding that they should promote peaceful conduct and civility in political engagements.
“In recent bye-elections, we saw disruptions of the electoral process caused by thuggery, which is not a good idea.
“The trend in recent local governments elections in Imo,Kano and Jigawa are very dangerous and this must stop in order not to undermine the aspiration for credible election by 2015.’’
Jega also warned political parties against presenting candidates in states where they were not existing.
He said the commission had received series of petitions on the issue.
“A particular example is the recent state constituency election in Sokoto where political parties that are virtually non-existent in the state rushed to present candidates for the bye-election.’’
The INEC chairman, therefore, urged political parties to support the democratic growth and restrict their quest for elective offices to areas they have institutional presence.
He also warned stakeholders, including politicians and political parties, against embarking on early campaigns toward the 2015 general elections or face the law.
He said that such early campaigns were unhealthy and could posed a threat to the growth of the country’s democracy
“You all must be mindful of the provision of Section 99, sub-section 1 of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended, which limits campaign periods to commence 90 days before polling day and end 24 hours to polling day,’’ he said.
Jega urged the newly registered political parties to provide the commission with list of its interim executive committees at both the state and local government levels.
The meeting was attended by the officials of 20 political parties, including the PDP, PDM, APGA, Accord Party, Action Alliance and Social Democratic Party.