Peter Obi : Some Campaign Strategies to Avoid
The Electoral Act, 2022 is the guiding light and legislation that determines the external activities of the political parties and this include the political campaign of the registered parties. Campaign is the process through which the different political parties unravel their manifestoes to the people in order to secure their supports.
At different occasions, the different political parties usually adopt different campaign strategies for the success of their candidates. This includes both online or virtual campaign and Physical campaign. The political parties are demanded to campaign across the nation. This will enable them have contact with the people that they want to govern.
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However, the new Electoral Act of 2022 has placed some guidelines that are worthy of note and we sincerely implore the Presidential Candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi to encourage and in charge his supporters to adhere to this rules as the enemies are watching to see them fall victim of the sections. We are only going to provide two sections of the Electoral Act, 2022 that should be important for consideration by us now.
For Clarification purposes; Peter Obi is the Former Governor of Anambra State and who during his reign as a Governor did marvellously well in Infrastructure, education and security. To his Government, the welfare and security of the masses turn to be the primary purpose of the government. He joined the presidential race with the mind set of winning and also rescuing the people of Nigeria from the scourge and bad effects of the past Governments. Let’s consider the two sections now:
Section 93 of the Electoral Act, 2022 provides that:
- A party, candidate, aspirant, or person or group of persons shall not directly or indirectly threaten any person with the use of force or violence during any political campaign in order to compel that person or any other person to support or refrain from supporting a political party or candidate.
2) A political party, candidate, aspirant, person or group of persons that contravenes the provisions of this section commits an offence and is liable on conviction—
(a) in the case of a candidate, aspirant, or person or group of persons, to a maximum fine of N1,000,000 or imprisonment for a term of 12 months ; and
(b) in the case of a political party, to a fine of N2,000,000 in the first instance, and N500,000 for any subsequent offence.
We most sincerely encourage Peter Obi supporters to be obedient to this provisions of the Electoral Act. Since we are cool people, let’s try and be calm. It’s already obvious that we can win them without applying force or threats on the supporters of other political parties.
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Section 97 of the Electoral Act, should also be considered. It provides thus:
97.—(1) A candidate, person or association that engages in campaigning or broadcasting based on religious, tribal, or sectional reason for the purpose of promoting or opposing a particular political party or the election of a particular candidate, commits an offence under this Act and is liable on conviction—
(a) to a maximum fine of N1,000,000 or imprisonment for a term of 12 months or both ; and
(b) in the case of a political party, to a maximum fine of N10,000,000
It should be emphasised here that we know that Peter Obi is the most competent Candidate for the presidential seat comes 2023 general election. However, we should be careful in making our campaign, lets avoid campaigning based on religious or tribe. We are not oblivion of the effect of the Muslim-Muslim Ticket on one of the Presidential Candidates but we shall win them without laying our campaign tune on that.
The forthcoming 2023 General election is going to be an election between Peter Obi, the presidential Candidate of Labour Party and other Candidates. The election is going to be won based on competency and personal fitness and not based on party affiliation or god’s fatherism.