Polls: Stop Questionable Court Injunctions, Situation Room Cautions NJC

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.”