Monrovia — The Election Coordination Commission (ECC) condemns pre-campaign activities by political parties and candidates ahead of the National Electoral Commission (NEC) election period outlined in the revised election schedule. The ECC observes NEC’s silence regarding these violations and calls on NEC to enforce rules and regulations related to pre-campaign activities.
According to the NEC’s revised 2023 election calendar, the prescribed period for presidential and legislative campaigns is August 5 to October 8, 2023. Posting material designed to and/or likely to influence voters. Pre-election campaigning is a violation of the election timeline, disrupts the level playing field for other candidates, and treats people like violators to others who abide by the rules of the election. He adds that it brings provocation because he is not given the opportunity to reach out.
The ECC announced in 2017 that the (NEC) would give politicians and political parties a one-week ultimatum to remove their flags, signs and stickers or make them ineligible to run in the October 2017 elections by a committee. Note that I ordered you to face the punishment of being deprived.[1]
The ECC further said that while political rallies are permitted under the law, it does not require the installation of political party t-shirts, emblems, billboards or the distribution of photo stickers.
The ECC requests the NEC to publish its pre-campaign rules outlining specific sanctions and penalties for political parties and candidates involved in pre-campaign activities. In the meantime, the ECC also calls on all political parties, their leaders, aspirants and supporters to respect the rule of law and refrain from engaging in pre-campaign activities.
At the same time, the ECC urges the government to prioritize allocating necessary financial resources to the NEC for the timely conduct of the election campaign.
[1] https://frontpageafricaonline.com/news/2016news/electioins-commission-issues-ultimatum-against-pre-campaigning/