Multiple Court Orders Threaten Anambra Election, INEC Warns

The multiplicity of Court Orders constitutes a major threat to
the conduct of the November 6 Anambra governorship election the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned

The electoral umpire observed some of the Orders have “the
tendency of eroding the powers of the Commission and compromising
its independence, powers and timelines for the conduct of the
upcoming election”.

The Commission also noted it is becoming increasingly difficult
to obey Court Orders and judgements that are the latest in time or
the first in time as some political parties and candidates have
perfected the art of shopping for the first in time or the latest
in time.

It insisted the planning and preparation for election require
certainty and adherence to timelines.

INEC National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter
Education Committee, Festus Okoye, raised the concern at the
implementation meeting of the voter education and publicity
department.

According to him: “The Commission has variously and consistently
complained at the frequency and consistency with which courts of
coordinate jurisdiction from different jurisdictions all over
Nigeria assumed jurisdiction and delivered judgements and issued
orders with far-reaching implications on the conduct of the Anambra
State Governorship election.

“Some of the Orders have the tendency of eroding the powers of
the Commission and compromising its independence, powers and
timelines for the conduct of the upcoming election”.

He added” “In our Regulations and Guidelines for the conduct of
Elections as well as the Timetable and Schedule of Activities, the
Commission issues access code to the National Chairman of Political
Parties with which they upload the Personal Particulars and List of
their candidates electronically.

“This obviated the demonstrations, fights and violence normally
witnessed in the premises of the Commission by different factions
of political parties and the National and State branches of
political parties.

“Unfortunately, some of the judgements and Orders were given
especially on the primary elections in Anambra State have bypassed
our portal and sought to restore the manual submission of the List
and Personal Particulars of candidates.

“It is also becoming increasingly difficult for the Commission
to obey Court Orders and judgements that are the latest in time or
the first in time as some of the Political Parties and the
candidates have perfected the art of shopping for the first in time
or the latest in time. The planning and preparation for election
require certainty and adherence to timelines.

“The leadership of the Bar Association and the Leadership of the
Judiciary must wade into this descent to forum shopping and the
multiplicity of Orders and judgements from courts of coordinate
jurisdiction. This is urgent, it is imperative and cannot be
carried over to the 2023 general election”.

The multiplicity of Court Orders constitutes a major threat to
the conduct of the November 6 Anambra governorship election the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned

The electoral umpire observed some of the Orders have “the
tendency of eroding the powers of the Commission and compromising
its independence, powers and timelines for the conduct of the
upcoming election”.

The Commission also noted it is becoming increasingly difficult
to obey Court Orders and judgements that are the latest in time or
the first in time as some political parties and candidates have
perfected the art of shopping for the first in time or the latest
in time.

It insisted the planning and preparation for election require
certainty and adherence to timelines.

INEC National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter
Education Committee, Festus Okoye, raised the concern at the
implementation meeting of the voter education and publicity
department.

According to him: “The Commission has variously and consistently
complained at the frequency and consistency with which courts of
coordinate jurisdiction from different jurisdictions all over
Nigeria assumed jurisdiction and delivered judgements and issued
orders with far-reaching implications on the conduct of the Anambra
State Governorship election.

“Some of the Orders have the tendency of eroding the powers of
the Commission and compromising its independence, powers and
timelines for the conduct of the upcoming election”.

He added” “In our Regulations and Guidelines for the conduct of
Elections as well as the Timetable and Schedule of Activities, the
Commission issues access code to the National Chairman of Political
Parties with which they upload the Personal Particulars and List of
their candidates electronically.

“This obviated the demonstrations, fights and violence normally
witnessed in the premises of the Commission by different factions
of political parties and the National and State branches of
political parties.

“Unfortunately, some of the judgements and Orders were given
especially on the primary elections in Anambra State have bypassed
our portal and sought to restore the manual submission of the List
and Personal Particulars of candidates.

“It is also becoming increasingly difficult for the Commission
to obey Court Orders and judgements that are the latest in time or
the first in time as some of the Political Parties and the
candidates have perfected the art of shopping for the first in time
or the latest in time. The planning and preparation for election
require certainty and adherence to timelines.

“The leadership of the Bar Association and the Leadership of the
Judiciary must wade into this descent to forum shopping and the
multiplicity of Orders and judgements from courts of coordinate
jurisdiction. This is urgent, it is imperative and cannot be
carried over to the 2023 general election”.