Big blow for APC as INEC insists ruling party is not eligible to field candidates in Zamfara
- INEC has insisted that APC is not eligible to field candidates in Zamfara
- The electoral umpire arrived at this decision after reviewing two conflicting judgement on the issue from the courts
- INEC claims this position was supported with section 87 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended)
Ahead of 2019 general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has again maintained its stand that the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Zamfara is not eligible to field candidates.
The Nation reports that this decision was reached after reviewing two conflicting judgement on the issue from the courts.
INEC disclosed this in a statement by Festus Okoye, the national commissioner and chairman, information and voter education.
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This position was supported with section 87 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended).
“The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) met today, 30th January 2019 and, among other things, approved the final list of candidates for the Governorship, State Assembly and FCT Area Council elections scheduled to hold on 2nd March 2019. On the whole, there are 1,066 candidates for the Governorship elections, 14,583 for the State Assembly elections and 806 for the FCT Area Council elections broken down into 105 chairmanship candidates and 701 councillorship candidates.
“The commission reviewed the situation concerning the All Progressives Congress (APC) fielding candidates for the governorship and state assembly elections in Zamfara state.
“The commission would like to reaffirm its commitment to obeying all court judgements, even when it disagrees with them. However, these are clearly two contradictory judgements delivered by two courts of coordinate jurisdiction on the same day.
“Consequently, the Commission has decided to maintain its original position that the party in question did not conduct primaries and, therefore, in line with Section 87 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), is not eligible to field candidates for the National Assembly, governorship and sState Assembly elections in Zamfara state.
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“Commission also reviewed various aspects of its preparedness for the 2019 general elections and expressed satisfaction with the overall preparations for the elections. A meeting with all the Resident Electoral Commissioners (REC) will take place next week to further review the state of preparedness of each state.”
Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that Senator Kabiru Marafa of the APC said he does not give a damn if his party loses the general elections in Zamfara state.
The lawmaker representing Zamfara central constituency in the Senate made the statement when speaking with journalists on Tuesday, January 29, about the crisis the Zamfara APC chapter.
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Source: Legit.ng
