Abuja- The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says the work of the judiciary and INEC requires absolute neutrality, affirming that the duo will not disappoint Nigerians as the nation approaches 2023 general elections.
The INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu made this remark at the opening of a four-day Capacity Building Workshop for Justices and Judges on Election Matters held on Monday at the National Judicial Institute in Abuja.
Yakubu recalled that prior to the 2019 General Election, a similar workshop was held in which the Commission interacted with the judiciary on the adjudication of post-election disputes.
According to him, the workshop in no small measure led to a better appreciation of the electoral processes, reduction in the spate of conflicting judgements as well as consequential reduction in the number of elections nullified and/or overturned after the election.
“I am glad that the judiciary and the Commission are once again collaborating on the eve of the forthcoming General Election.
“Let me therefore express our profound appreciation to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola GCON, and other heads of courts for the sustained collaboration with the Commission.
“The job of the politician is intensely partisan. Our work (the judiciary and INEC) requires absolute neutrality. We will not disappoint Nigerians,” Yakubu said.
He said that the workshop could not have come at a better time just as it is exactly 109 days to the 2023 General Election holding in two phases: national elections (Presidential and National Assembly holding on 25th February 2023) and State elections (Governorship and State Assembly holding on 11th March 2023).
The INEC boss said that Election would be held in 1,491 constituencies made up of 1 Presidential Constituency, 28 Governorship elections, 109 Senatorial Districts, 360 Federal Constituencies (House of Representatives) and 993 State Constituencies (State House of Assembly). Most significantly.
He added that it would be the first General Election since the repeal of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) and its re-enactment as the Electoral Act 2022.
Yakubu said: “I have no doubt that this workshop will enhance the understanding of INEC’s processes, especially the innovations introduced pursuant to the enactment of the Electoral Act 2022 which came into force on 25th February 2022.
“The new Electoral Act contains eighty new provisions intended to improve our elections and address some of the lacunae in the repealed Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), provide legal backing to the technological innovations introduced by the Commission overtime and the extension of timelines for the nomination of candidates and for other electoral activities.
“Similarly, the new Electoral Act confers exclusive jurisdiction to hear pre-election cases on the Federal High Court with regard to candidate nomination in order to reduce forum shopping by litigants, abuse of court process and reduction in the spate of conflicting judgements by courts of coordinate jurisdiction.
“We are reassured by the inspiring speech by My Lord the President of the Court of Appeal for the elaborate steps taken against conflicting judgement by Courts of coordinate jurisdiction,” he said.
He noted that the similar workshop organised ahead of the 2019 General Election brought about a sharp reduction in the number of cases arising from that election and consequently a reduced number of elections nullified by the Election Petition Tribunals.
According to him, for instance, 30 elections were upturned by the Tribunals in 2019 as against over 100 in a previous election.
“Even so, in 23 out of 30 constituencies (i.e. 76%) the elections were only set aside in some polling units and not the wholesale nullification of elections in entire constituencies.
“We have studied the judgements of the Tribunals arising from both the 2019 General Election, the off-cycle Governorship elections and the bye-elections conducted so far.
“We identified areas where we need to do more to reduce litigations. As a result, we are witnessing increasingly less Court cases challenging the conduct of elections by the Commission. However, cases arising from the conduct of primaries for the nomination of candidates by political parties is on the increase.
“So far, we have been joined in about 600 cases relating to the conduct of recent primaries and nomination of candidates by political parties for the 2023 General Election. Only two weeks ago, one political party served about 70 Court processes on the Commission in one day seeking to compel us to accept the nomination or substitution of its candidates long after the deadline provided in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2023 General Election had elapsed. Some of the cases will go up to the Supreme Court.
“The implication is that we are still dealing with issues of nomination of candidates thereby eating into vital rime for preparation of and procurement of sensitive materials for the materials. It also means that the Courts will be dealing with the same issues long after the General Election,” he said.
Yakubu reassured the judiciary that the Commission would continue to abide by Court orders.
The INEC boss said: ” However, strict adherence to stare decisis is critical for us as an Election Management Body.
“A situation where a trial Court sought to vary the judgement of the Supreme Court by ordering the Commission to issue a Certificate of Return in favour of a candidate whose emergence during the party’s primary election has been nullified by the apex Court (and affirmed by the same Court following an application for clarification) put the Commission in a difficult situation.
“The matter is currently being litigated again, possibly all the way back to the Supreme Court, thereby wasting the precious time of the Courts which are already inundated by even the most improbable cases by litigation-happy individuals and parties.”
He acknowledged the support of all the development partners in supporting the capacity-building workshop in particular and deepening the democratic process
The workshop had in attendance the Chief Justice of Nigeria, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Justices of the Supreme Court, the President of the Court of Appeal, Justices Court of Appeal, Chief Judges and Heads of Courts, Judges of High Courts, the Administrator of the National Judicial Institute among others.
