Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi has banned political rallies in public schools in the state from November 1.

The governor announced the ban in Abakaliki on Monday at a stakeholders’ summit on residents’ input and consultations for the 2023 budget estimates.

Mr Umahi said political parties must get clearance from the commissioner for education to hold rallies in the schools.

“Let me make it clear that from November 1, before any political rally can hold in primary and secondary schools, political parties must get approval from the Ministry of Education,” Mr Umahi said.

He added, “No political campaign must hold in any public school, and this is our position.”

The governor stressed that this was to avoid the destruction of school infrastructure.

“We do not want situations where facilities in our schools are destroyed in the name of campaign. We don’t want people to go there and begin to defecate around school premises. We want to checkmate destruction in our schools and preserve facilities there,” said the Ebonyi governor.

Mr Umahi also banned commercial motorcyclists from operating between 7:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. to checkmate insecurity.

The summit also discussed Nigeria’s 2023 population and housing censuses.

Mr Umahi also decried the use of hate speech by candidates of political parties and tasked all politicians to desist from the act.

On the 2023 budget estimates, he said the large chunk would go to education, infrastructure, health, and agriculture, among others.

Finance commissioner Orlando Nweze said the Ebonyi government estimated more than N139 billion as the budget for 2023.

(NAN)