The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday expressed concern on the spate of pre-election litigation and conflicting court orders in the country.
The country’s foremost electoral agency said these series of conflicting court orders constitute a threat to the smooth conduct of parities primaries and fast approaching gubernatorial election in Edo State.
In a statement made available to KAFTAN Post on Tuesday, INEC’s national commissioner for information and voter education, Festus Okoye, said the commission deliberated on a range of issues concerning the governorship election which is slated for September 19.
INEC said following the meeting, the conduct of party primaries, including resolution of disputes, will end on June 27, 2020.
It added that the submission of the list of candidates the parties propose to present at the election and affidavits of validly nominated candidates will close at 6pm on June 29, 2020.
On court orders, the commission said it would obey all orders and judgements from properly constituted courts in accordance with the rule of law.
“In view of this and as part of its commitment to deepen the use of technology in elections, the commission will conduct a training programme for Liaison Officers nominated by all the registered Political Parties on the use of the INEC Portal for uploading nomination forms of candidates,” Okoye said.
“The training will take place at the Conference Hall of the Commission on Thursday 26th and Friday 27th June 2020 in two batches, to allow for physical distancing in line with the COVID-19 protocols.
“Political Parties should note that the organisation and scheduling of various activities and processes leading to the conduct of elections are complex and involve extensive and careful planning and any disruption of these processes comes at a huge cost to the nation.
“The spate and tenor of pre-election litigations and the conflicting orders emanating therefrom can harm the smooth conduct of primaries and the upcoming elections.”
It would be recalled that the ruling party, APC, has been enmeshed in a leadership predicament following last week the appeal court ruling that upheld the suspension of Adams Oshiomhole as national chairman of the party.
While the party announced Abiola Ajimobi, former Oyo governor, as acting chairman, Giadom declared himself as national chairman and also reversed the disqualification of Godwin Obaseki, governor of Edo, from the gubernatorial primary election.
However, the national working committee of the APC overruled him and appointed Hilliard Eta, vice chairman of the party in the south-south) to stand in for ailing Ajimobi.
A high court of the federal capital territory (FCT) later reaffirmed Giadom as the acting national chairman of the APC but another high court in Rivers state immediately restrained him from parading himself as such.
The opposition party at the national level and new ruling party in Edo State, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is also not immune to the crisis as Governor Obaseki’s opponent on Monday obtained a order at the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, stopping the Governor from participating in the party’s governorship primaries.
However, KAFTAN Post reports that a conflicting order emanated on Tuesday from the Federal High Court, Ekpoma, Edo State where the incumbent was given the go-ahead to participate in the Thursday’s exercise.
Read the full Press Statement Below:
PRESS RELEASE
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) met today, the 23rd June 2020 and deliberated on a range of issues including the ongoing conduct of Party Primaries relating to the Edo Governorship election slated for the 19th September 2020, the Court Orders emanating from the administration of political parties and conduct of the primaries, as well as the Code of Conduct and Rules of Engagement for Security Officials on Electoral Duty.
Party Primaries
The Commission notes that the conduct of party primaries, including resolution of disputes arising therefrom will end on Saturday 27th June 2020, while the submission of the list of candidates the parties propose to sponsor at the election and affidavits of validly nominated candidates will close at 6pm on Monday 29th June 2020.
In view of this and as part of its commitment to deepen the use of technology in elections, the Commission will conduct a training programme for Liaison Officers nominated by all the registered Political Parties on the use of the INEC Portal for uploading nomination forms of candidates. The training will take place at the Conference Hall of the Commission on Thursday 26th and Friday 27th June 2020 in two batches, to allow for physical distancing in line with the COVID-19 protocols.
Court Orders
Political Parties should note that the organisation and scheduling of various activities and processes leading to the conduct of elections are complex and involve extensive and careful planning and any disruption of these processes comes at a huge cost to the nation. The spate and tenor of pre-election litigations and the conflicting orders emanating therefrom can harm the smooth conduct of primaries and the upcoming elections. The Commission is closely monitoring the cases arising from the administration of political parties, the conduct of primaries and nomination of candidates. This notwithstanding, the Commission restates its avowed commitment to continue to obey all orders and judgements from properly constituted courts in accordance with the rule of law.
Code of Conduct and Rules of Engagement for Security Officials on Electoral Duty
The Commission also considered the report from the meeting of the Inter- Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), which recently approved a Code of Conduct and Rules of Engagement for Security Officials on Electoral Duty. The Code is signed by the Chairman of INEC, the National Security Adviser (NSA) as Co-Chairman of ICCES and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) as head of the lead agency in election security.
The said Code will be uploaded on the websites of the Commission, the Office of the NSA and the Nigeria Police Force on Thursday 25th June 2020.
Festus Okoye Esq.
National Commissioner and Chairman,
Information and Voter Education Committee
23rd June 2020.
