PPRC Bans Street Rallies
By Kelvin Jay
The Political Parties Registration Commission(PPRC) has in a press release dated 3rd April, 2023 informs the general public that after extensive deliberations with Political parties in the Country in pursuit of public safety, public space and public morality and in protection of the rights of others and the preservation of the state, as envisioned in section 26(2)(a)(i&ii) of the 1991 constitution unanimously resolved to ban street rallies in the forthcoming elections.
Speaking on the reason for such action, the Executive Secretary of PPRC, Olushogo A David, in an interview on radio democracy said that a ban has been placed on Street rallies across the country but not on Political rallies.
For Political Rallies, he said, there will be designated places across the country where members of political parties can converge and have conversations with their supporters, noting that those designated places are going to be manned by Security Personnel. He also added that the Government is going to provide government facilities free of charge to political parties for the holding of such rallies.
When asked if the decision to ban street rallies was unanimously agreed by Political Parties, he answered in the affirmative, stating that the resolution was taken during a consultative conference held with various political parties, CSOs, the Media and the Security Sector concerning the forthcoming elections.
“Participants that were present in the consultative conference noted that street rallies have over the years not yielded any dividend.
It has increased tensions, increased violence and has put a lot of suffering on the common people.
We have seen over the years whereas street rallies caused market places to be closed, businesses to be standstill and there is always infringement on the rights of ordinary citizens who have nothing to do with politics,” he explained.
According to him, the primary focus of the commission is to see the election be conducted in a very peaceful manner irrespective of the various political parties ideas and concepts.
He added that, “After nominations, PPRC, ECSL and the security sector together with political parties, will meet to decide on the designated areas. Very soon, we are going to engage political parties and other stakeholders to put together the rules and regulations that will guide the activities of political parties”, stressing that any political party that violates the regulations the law will take its full course.
However, when the news broke out that street rallies has been banned, the main Opposition Political Parties, APC, condemned the decision in its entirety and dissociating themselves to be part and parcel of it.
