The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has asked political parties to obey court orders and statutory guidelines ahead of 2023 elections.
INEC Secretary, Rose Oriaran Anthony, said this while receiving a letter from the Guardian of Democracy and Rule of Law, who were on a solidarity rally to the commission over the recently signed 2022 electoral law.
The secretary received the letter on behalf of the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.
She assured the activists that INEC as a law abiding commission would continue to respect the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the judiciary in particular, in all her undertakings.
She promised that all the contents of the letter would be strictly adhered to.
In his remarks, the convener of the group, Chris Ukpai, who presented the letter, said events that culminated in the signing into law of the 2022 Electoral Act signalled a beautiful beginning for Nigerians towards entrenching and sustaining its nascent democracy.
He said the implication of the coming on board of the new Electoral Act signified that moving forward, Nigeria’s democratic institutions would be strengthened, and elections would be credible, free and fair.
Ukpai said the peaceful march to INEC was intended to drive home the point that Nigeria and Nigerians were deserving of credible leadership, and this could only be achieved if the electoral umpire stayed true to its name by ensuring that the votes of the people count in selecting leaders that would drive its quest towards sustainable growth and development.
