Coalition of CSOs queries INEC on compliance to court judgment.
Coalition of Civil Society Organisation, under the aegis of the Centre for Credible Leadership and Citizens Awareness has queried the inability of the Independent National Electoral Commission,INEC, to comply to court judgement of may 9,2022 by the Supreme Court.
The Group in a press briefing on the 2023 Electoral Risk Assessment (ERA),said despite the controversies, the lead Justice of the Panel Hon. Justice Mary U. Peter-Odili (Rtd), in other to ensure that justice prevails, had to write from retirement to clarify all parties that Chief Edozie Njoku was the National Chairman of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) that was wrongly removed at the Jigawa State High Court,
Convener of the Coalition, Dr Gabriel Nwambu said , in a letter by Justice Mary Peter-Odili retired dated November 7, 2022, the lead Justice and other members of the panel pointed out the misconception arising from the slip of pen and tongue on paragraph 1 of page 13 of the October 14, 2021 judgment and that this error had long been corrected,noting that all the parties to the suit including INEC were duly served.
According to him, notwithstanding, INEC is yet to honor the Supreme Court Judgment.
The Coalition revealed that in January 19, 2023, the Chief Justice of Nigeria through the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, while admitting that Chief Victor Oye’s name was ‘erroneously inserted’ in the Judgment further confirmed Chief Edozie Njoku as the National Chairman of APGA and requested him to come forward with a motion to the Court for the regularization of the corrected version of the Judgment.
The Group said during their review of possible risks to the coming election, risk experts made it clear that the retention of Chief Victor Oye’s name on INEC website and his subsequent recognition as APGA National Chairman by INEC poses the greatest risk to the 2023 General Election.
Other Members of the Coalition were of the view that INEC not respecting judgment of Supreme court will send a wrong signal that will heat up the polity.
They therefore called on the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof Mahmood Yakubu to look into the name of Chief. Victor Oye on their INEC’s website in the spirit of fairness and justice, as it sends the wrong signal both home and abroad.
