Connect with us

Politics

ZAMFARA: INEC to wait for Supreme Court’s decision

Published

on

INEC explains why it frowned at Cross River REC's resignation

The people of Zamfara State may have to wait a little longer to know who is their new governor and other elected representatives, as the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, said on Monday that it would wait for the pronouncement of the Supreme Court before taking any decision on the primary elections of the All Progressives Congress, in the state.

It would be recalled that INEC withheld the certificate return of the state governor-elect, AlAlhaji Mukhtar Shehu and state assembly lawmakers-elect after the Court of Appeal, Sokoto Division, ruled against the candidacy of all candidates of the APC in the state.

Speaking on the issue in Abuja, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, described the electoral body as law abiding.

He said: “The Independent National Electoral Commission is a law-abiding institution. It is the policy of the commission to obey court orders and court decisions.

“The commission took the decision to exclude the candidates of the All Progressives Congress from the list of nominated candidates on the grounds that the party did not conduct primary elections.

“The party has taken the matter to the Supreme Court and it is only rational and prudent to wait for the decision of the Supreme Court before proceeding. The commission took a cautionary approach in suspending further issuance of certificates of return to the members-elect of the state assembly, the deputy governor-elect and the governor-elect. The commission will abide by the decision of the Supreme Court on the matter.”

Read also: OGUN: Drama as LP guber candidate disowns lawyer at tribunal

Continuing, Okoye said: “The commission does not have any interest in who becomes the governor of Zamfara State but is only interested in the processes and procedures leading to the declaration of results and issuance of certificates of return.

“We are confident that the Supreme Court will conclude the hearing of the matter and deliver its judgment before the inauguration of elected members of the national and state assemblies.

“We believe that the people of Zamfara State deserve to know who their governor and representatives are before the terminal date of this regime.

“The commission receives dozens of letters daily. The commission replies letters it receives but takes decisions based on the orders and judgments of courts.

“The commission studies the judgments and takes its decisions based on the judgements and orders and not based on the opinions and decisions of lawyers.”

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now