Zamfara Election: INEC awaits Supreme Court’s judgement
— The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has officially released a new statement regarding the election in Zamfara state.
— The body has decided to wait for the pronouncement of the Supreme Court before taking any decision regarding the primary elections of the party in the State.
The body said that the decision of the Supreme Court will determine the fate of those elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Zamfara State.
INEC has decide to wait for the pronouncement of the Supreme Court before taking any decision regarding the primary elections of the party in the State.
Before now, the commission had withheld certificates of return of the state Governor-elect, Alhaji Mukhtar Shehu, following the judgment passed by the Court of Appeal in Sokoto.
The Alliance People Congress, APC, last week wrote the commission saying that the Court of Appeal did not nullify their primary elections in the State.
According to INEC’s Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, while speaking with reporters yesterday.
Read Also: Whether you like it or not, PDP will bounce back — Abiodun Olujimi
The Chairman 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.
“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 inuguration 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, ” he said.
