The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC says it will await the decision of the Supreme Court to enable it to determine the fate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Zamfara state. Dailypost had reported earlier that the commission withheld certificates of return of the state Governor-elect, Alhaji Mukhtar Shehu, following the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Sokoto.
The Commission also withheld Certificates of those elected on the party's platform into the National and State House of Assembly.
The Commission hinged its decision on the ruling by an Appeal Court which upheld the decision of a Federal High Court. Speaking to reporters in Abuja on Monday, INEC’s Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, said the commission was law-abiding.
According to him, “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 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.”
