Politicians hunt for court orders to force their candidacy on INEC
As the July 15 deadline for the closure of Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) nomination portal approaches, desperate politicians are said to be running from one court to the other, ostensibly to “procure” court orders to compel INEC to publish their candidacy on its portal.
Top on the list of these forum shoppers are said to be House of Representatives and Senate aspirants of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), some of who did not participate in or failed the party’s primaries but whose particulars were forwarded to INEC by their party.
Recall that the electoral body vehemently refused to publish credentials of individuals whose primaries failed due diligence in accord with the Electoral Act.
In a recent statement clarifying its position on the issue, the electoral umpire insisted that it will not succumb to ploy to impugn its reputation and integrity over its refusal to publish the particulars of persons whose nominations it did not monitor.
Two cases cited by INEC included those of Akwa Ibom North West and Yobe North Senatorial Districts involving Senator Godswill Akpabio and President of Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan.
It has since also emerged that Abia Central Senatorial District is equally facing a disputation over an attempt to substitute the alleged winner of the ticket, Hon. Sam Onuigbo.
Some court papers gleaned by this reporter and which was served the electoral body showed proof of this desperation.
For instance a nominee of the ruling party, Chief Emeka Atuma, a contender for the Abia Central Senatorial seat, according to INEC source, served the electoral umpire an order dated June 29 which was issued by a state High Court in Umunneochi, Abia State.
The order was signed by Benjamin Ikaa, an Assistant Chief Registrar 1, and compelled INEC to publish the details of Atuma as the duly nominated candidate of the party.
Interestingly, the same Chief Atuma was listed as No. 2 plaintiff in another order from Katsina Division of the Federal High Court issued by Justice Shittu Abubakar and dated July 6.
The order of the Federal High Court granted the interim injunction restraining INEC from causing irreparable political damage to the applicants, directing INEC to receive the applicants’ documents as flag bearers of APC temporarily, pending the determination of the motion on notice. The APC and fifteen others were listed as plaintiffs/applicants in the suit. (Daily Independent)
