Off-cycle polls: Reprinting materials to comply with court judgments challenging, says INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it is concerned about the spate of recent judgments on candidature in the off-cycle elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi.

Mahmood Yakubu, INEC chairman, articulated the commission’s position on Tuesday during the quarterly consultative meeting with leaders of political parties.

On October 10, a federal high court in Abuja disqualified Timipre Sylva, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Bayelsa governorship election, from the race.

The commission had subsequently reviewed the list of candidates, leaving the APC in Bayelsa with no governorship candidate.

Speaking on the issue of candidature, Yakubu said the commission is “concerned about the spate of recent judgments and orders of court in respect of the nomination, substitution or disqualification of candidates after all the sensitive materials have been printed”.

He said 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 is “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,” he said.

“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.”

Yakubu said INEC is concerned about the spate of violence involving political parties and candidates in the three states and reminded party leaders that free and fair elections are only possible in an atmosphere of peace.

“After all, election is a process involving human beings as voters, election officials, observers and the media whose safety is of paramount concern to us,” he said.

“While we will continue to work with the security agencies in this regard, political parties acting individually or collectively through the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) also have an obligation to impress on your members, candidates and supporters to maintain peace during the campaign rallies and procession.

“I urge you to also appeal to them to maintain the same disposition on Election Day and beyond.”