2019 polls under threat – INEC

* Says court orders confusing, to put trackers on election
vehicles

Asked whether INEC would prosecute people involved in
multiple registrations, Okoye replied that the Commission’s legal
department lacks the manpower to handle the anticipated array of
offenders

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has raised
the alarm that conflicting orders from courts of concurrent
jurisdiction, in respect of lists of candidates by political
parties, could threaten the smooth conduct of next year’s general
election.

National Commissioner in charge of Information and Voter
Education, Festus Okoye, who stated this in Enugu, yesterday, urged
the courts to be cautious in issuing ex parte orders while the
political parties design means of solving their internal matters
amicably without frustrating the Commission’s operations.

One issue that bothers the commission, he said, concerns
multiple and contradictory orders emanating from the various courts
of law, especially, arising from the party primaries.

“In some of the states, over the same subject matter, by the
same parties; we have orders from three different High Courts in a
particular state; orders from Federal High Court in a state, orders
from the Federal High Court in the Federal Capital Territory, over
the same subject and the same issue.

“Sometimes, these orders are contradictory.

“Some of the orders are saying the Commission should collect
list of party primary election emanating from a political party;
another order is saying ‘don’t collect,’ yet another is saying,
‘maintain the status quo.’

“We believe that this is not healthy for the Commission; it’s
not healthy for the Judiciary, it’s not healthy for the Nigerian
people and it will not advance Nigerian democracy.

“So, our plea is that our courts should be circumspect in
granting ex parte applications; should also interrogate litigants
to make sure that the same issues are not brought before courts of
coordinate jurisdiction and they will then issue orders that are
contradictory and orders that will give the Commission problems in
obeying.

“We don’t want a situation where the Commission will be said to
be disobeying court orders…

“It creates confusion for the Commission and the Commission does
not want that type of confusion, especially at this particular
period,” Okoye stated.

Asked whether INEC would prosecute people involved in multiple
registrations, Okoye replied that the Commission’s legal department
lacks the manpower to handle the anticipated array of offenders but
disclosed that they will partner with the Nigerian Bar Association
in prosecuting electoral offenders.

He further added that the Commission is perfecting its
processes, ahead of the elections.

The commission, Okoye added, will install trackers in all
vehicles deployed for electoral duties, particularly those carrying
sensitive electoral materials in 2019.

“So, when a vehicle leaves the Central Bank of Nigeria or an
INEC office; we can see the vehicle moving to where it has been
programmed to go to.

“If the vehicle moves out of the Highway where it has been
programmed to go; we will demobilise it.

“If it stops on the way while carrying sensitive electoral
materials; we’ll interrogate the driver and the officers
accompanying the vehicle.

“When the vehicle gets to the local government where it is
supposed to be; we monitor it to ensure that it’s not diverted for
any particular purpose,” he disclosed.