The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has explained why it is yet to take a stance on the judgement which sacked Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State.
Speaking at the end of the management meeting of the commission on Thursday March 24, the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), Festus Okoye said they can’t take any action at the moment because of multiple court cases.
Okoye said;
“It will be recalled that the commission met on Thursday 17th March on the matter, decided to defer its deliberation on the Ebonyi cases and stepped down the listed Memorandum to enable its Legal Services and Clearance Committee to study the new processes served on it in the light of the previously served ones and advise the Commission comprehensively.
“Since then, the commission has been served yet more Court Processes on the same matter, bringing the total to 12.
“The Commission deliberated extensively on these cases and decided to further suspend action on the defection of the Governor and Deputy-Governor of Ebonyi State and 16 members of the State House of Assembly from the PDP to the APC in the light of the conflicting judgements and orders served on it from Courts of coordinate jurisdiction”
The INEC Commissioner also averred that they consider it prudent to stay action on the conflicting judgements and orders being aware of the pendency of Appeals and Motions for Stay of Execution of some of the judgements before various divisions of the Court of Appeal.
Okoye also said that the commission would on Friday March 25, publish in its state and local government offices in Osun State, the list and personal particulars of the candidates that political parties propose to sponsor at the State governorship election.
He added that the candidates must have emerged from valid primaries in line with Section 84 of the Electoral Act 2022.
The INEC Commissioner said;
“The commission will publish the list and personal particulars of the candidates of 15 out of the 18 political parties that conducted primaries. The nominations of the Action Alliance (AA); African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) will not be published for their failure to comply with the commission’s Guidelines on Political Party Operations (2018) or the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).
“The AA did not submit a nomination jointly signed by the National Chairman and Secretary of the party while the ADC and APGA nominated candidates that do not meet the age requirements for the office of Deputy Governor as enshrined in the Constitution. The commission has already communicated this position officially to the affected Political Parties.”
