Don’t weaken our electoral system, Situation Room tells judiciary

Situation Room, an election observer group, has called on the courts to stop their involvement in litigation capable of weakening the credibility of the electoral system.

In a preliminary statement issued on the eve of the supplementary election, Clement Nwankwo, convener of the group comprising 70 civil society organisations, expressed concern about the emerging trend of “escalating judicial involvement in what should ordinarily be matters outside the purview of the courts across the country”.

In the last one week, the courts have ruled against the plan of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct supplementary elections on Saturday.

On Tuesday, a federal high court in Abuja, ordered the commission not to go ahead with its plan to resume the collation of results of Tafawa Balewa local government area of Bauchi state.

Two days after, a high court in Yola, Adamawa state capital, ordered INEC not to conduct election in the state based on a suit filed by a governorship candidate in the March 9 election.

While acknowledging the role of the judiciary, Nwankwo warned against a situation of the courts limiting INEC.

“The courts have got involved in electoral litigation and disputations in a manner that weakens the credibility of our electoral system,” he said.

“By issuing perplexing orders and injunctions that constrain INECs ability to fulfill its constitutional functions of conducting elections.”

He also urged political parties to desist from election malpractices and INEC to ensure transparency in results collation.

Nwankwo advised security to be professional and non partisan in their conduct during the elections.

“Situation Room will like to reiterate that section 29 (3) of the electoral act, which defines this role (of security officials) in the elections, and that it will be illegal for security services to operate outside of the roles defined for them by INEC,” Nwankwo said.

“ Situation Room calls further on the security services to demonstrate their commitment to non-partisan support of electoral security. The security services should take the following steps: Publicly commit to steps that will reassure the public on the security of election re-runs; and act on guidance from INEC on deployment of officers for election duties and share all details with the commission.”