How Court Judgements, Insecurity Poses Threat To November 11 Polls – INEC Chairman

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has said the recent spate of court judgements and incidents of insecurity in Bayelsa, Kogi, and Imo states have posed a threat to the preparation of the November 11 polls.

The INEC chairman said recent court orders on the nomination, substitution or disqualification of candidates have really affected the commission’s preparation because all the sensitive materials have been printed, and extra expenses had to be incurred in cases like that.

Yakubu, at the quarterly meeting with political parties yesterday at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja, also expressed worry over the spate of violence in the three states involving parties and candidates.

He cautioned that if free and fair elections were held, it would happen in an atmosphere of peace.

Yakubu noted that with just a little over two weeks to the election, INEC is at the concluding stages of its preparations and that this is the first time the commission will be conducting three off-cycle governorship elections simultaneously across different geo-political zones.

“The reprinting of the materials in compliance with court orders within a short period of time is not only expensive but the management of the process very challenging. Although the commission has already published the final list of candidates for the three states, four recent court orders have compelled us to review the list.

“These changes have been reflected in the updated list of parties and candidates on our website. However, this decision is without prejudice to any pending appeal by the affected candidates or their political parties.

“As electioneering campaigns continue to intensify, the commission reiterates its concern about the spate of violence in the three states involving parties and candidates. I wish to remind you as party leaders that free and fair elections are only possible in an atmosphere of peace.

“This is made possible by the coincidence of the end of tenure of the current holders of the offices which fall within the constitutional timeframe of not earlier than 150 days or later than 30 days before the expiration of their terms of office as enshrined in Section 178(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended),” the INEC boss submitted.