…as governorship candidates to spend N17bn on campaigns
In a matter of two days, precisely on April 24, campaigns for the 2024 Edo governorship election slated for 21 September will get into full swing, going by the timetable and schedule of activities for the election released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) last year.
Edo people who have been waiting with bated breath to hear what promises and programmes the governorship candidates have in store for them will get their day in the sun as the campaign trails traverse the nook and cranny of the state.
But beyond manifestos, about N17 billion is likely to be injected into the Edo economy between now and the election date, directly or indirectly, and businesses into printing, advertising and media consulting, broadcasting and publishing, transportation, hospitality, outdoor catering, rentals, among others will be waiting to grab a piece of that campaign spending.
The Electoral Act 2022, in Section 88, subsection 3, provides that “the maximum amount of election expenses to be incurred by a candidate in respect of governorship election shall not exceed N1,000,000,000”.
If each of the governorship candidates of the 17 political parties fielding candidates in the 2024 Edo governorship election spends the maximum limit stipulated in the Electoral Act, that sums up to N17 billion.
Electioneering campaign period is a time when politicians roll out funds in a bid to market themselves and win the hearts of the electorate in order, ultimately, to win majority votes at the polls.
As the campaign season kicks off in Edo State, politicians and their supporters will print thousands of posters, flyers, banners, billboards, caps, t-shirts, and other kinds of branded campaign materials as they try to capture the attention of and sway voters to their side. This will create a buzz of activities for every business along the value chain, from graphics designers to printers to dealers in materials used in the process.
Similarly, advertising and media will pocket a large chunk of the campaign spend as candidates, their associates and well-wishers fall over one another in pursuit of advert placement in favour of their preferred candidates across the broad spectrum of print, electronic and social media. Television and radio appearances will be booked and paid for. Here again, graphics designers, copywriters, advertising agencies, voice-over artistes producing advert jingles, social media influencers, and others along the chain will benefit.
As the candidates move from one end of the state to the other to campaign, those in the transportation business, especially inter-city commercial buses and cabs, will see increased activity as they convey party faithful to campaign grounds. The more vehicles on the road, the more sales for petrol stations.
Rental business will also experience a boom as political parties rent canopies, chairs, tables, megaphones, and other items to keep party supporters relatively comfortable during campaigns.
At the same time, hotels and event centres will be busy hosting meetings, just as outdoor caterers, disc jockeys, and entertainers will also be in high demand to provide refreshment and entertainment, respectively, to teeming party supporters.
INEC had on Saturday, March 30, displayed the list of governorship candidates of the 17 political parties contesting the 21 September governorship election in Edo.
According to the list, Accord Party (AP) is fielding Iyere Kennedy as its governorship candidate. Similarly, Action Alliance (AA) has Uwaifo Osaro as its governorship candidate; All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Osifo Isaiah; All Peoples Movement (APM), Ugiagbe Odaro Syvelster; All Peoples Party (APP), Areleogbe Amos Osalumese; Action Democratic Party (ADP), Akhime Kingson Afere; African Action Congress (AAC), Udoh Obersifo David; African Democratic Congress (ADC), Obazele Paul Agbone; All Progressives Congress (APC), Okpebholo Monday, and Boot Party (BP), Osirame Edeipo.
Others are Labour Party (LP), Olumide Akpata Anthony; Social Democratic Party (SDP), Aner Abdullai Aliu; New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Azena Azemhe Friday; Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Asuerinme Ighodalo; Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Key Patience Ndidi; Young Progressives Party (YPP), Okungbowa Paul Ovbokhan, and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Akhalamhe Amiemenoghena.
