The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has decried the many court orders ahead of the November 6 governorship election in Anambra State.
The commission said the multiplicity of the orders could affect the planning and preparation for the 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,” Festus Okoye, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee noted.
It warned that 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.
It explained: “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.”
