The Anambra State House of Assembly on Tuesday passed into law a bill prohibiting political aspirants whose names did not appear on the final list of candidates cleared by the Independent National Elections Commission (INEC) to stand for elective posts in the coming general elections.
Titled “Breaches of the Peace and Unlawful Assemblies Law”, the legislation which took immediate effect from January 20, 2015 stipulates in Section 3 (1) that: “A person shall not advertise, publish, and solicit for votes for or otherwise engage in any campaign for himself or for a person whose name was not duly published by INEC or ANSIEC or any other electoral body within Nigeria as a nominated person for any election within Anambra State.’
Section 3[2] also states that ‘Any person who acts in contravention of subsection [1] of this Section is hereby declared to have engaged or to be engaging in an unlawful assembly with intent to cause public disorder and breaches of public peace.’
The bill falls in tandem with the provisions of the nation’s electoral laws as well as the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria.
The bill which was presented by the Majority Leader, Hon. Harford I. Oseke, representing Awka South 2 Constituency, went through the first, second and third readings without any dissenting voice. The sitting dissolved into committee of the whole house for consideration and debate of the provisions of the bill after it sailed through the second reading.
Hon. Ikem Uzoezie representing Aguata 2 Constituency proposed amendment to the fine of one hundred thousand naira provided in the bill to one million naira but Hon. Paulinus Onyeka Ifechukwu of Ekwusigo constituency opted for five hundred thousand naira fine and was seconded by Hon Victor Jideofor Okoye of Anambra West constituency. When the matter was put to vote, eleven members voted for one million while three members voted for five hundred thousand.
Consequently, Section 3 [3] of the bill was amended to read: ‘Any person who engages in unlawful assemblies or acts in such a manner as to cause public disorder and breach of public peace as referred to in subsection [2] of this Section commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of N1, 000,000 {one million naira] or to a term of one year imprisonment or both.’
The bill was thereafter read the third and final time and passed into law.
Commenting on the merits of the legislation, Hon. Paulinus Ifechukwu described it as proactive. ‘This bill will solve a lot of problems especially about candidate impersonation. It will create the atmosphere for proper campaigns and elections. It will avert chaos in the 2015 polls in Anambra State.’
Hon. Rita Maduagwu representing Nnewi South 2 constituency said the excesses the bill sought to curtail were such over which INEC officials had pleaded helplessness. She noted that the lacuna in the electoral laws was being exploited by some aspirants to self declare themselves candidates.
The Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon Chinwe Nwaebili remarked that the importance of the law called for its ‘aggressive implementation.’
Moving a motion for adjournment, the House Leader, Hon. Oseke commended Governor Willie Obiano for the restoration of peace and security in Anambra State which was glaring during the Christmas and New Year celebrations. Hon. Kenechukwu Chukwuemeka [Awka South Constituency] lauded Governor Obiano for his vision of development.
