x

Court Orders INEC To Accept LP Candidates In 24 States

Ahead of the 2023 general elections, Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to accept the nominations of candidates of the Labour Party (LP) in 24 states of the Federation.

The court ordered that the electoral body must accept the list of the candidates, either manually or through its electronic nomination portal.

Delivering judgement, Justice Ekwo held that INEC violated Sections 31, 33 and 36 of the Electoral Act 2022 in rejecting the LP candidates in the affected states on the ground of non-functional of its nomination portal.

The 24 states affected by the court order are Kwara, Plateau, Nasarawa, Lagos, Kaduna, Oyo, Benue, Bauchi, Ebonyi and Ekiti states.

The rest are Katsina, Bayelsa, Niger, Rivers, Sokoto, Akwa Ibom, Gombe, Borno, Osun, Adamawa and Cross River States among others.

The Labour Party had last year November conducted substitution nomination for its candidates who withdrew from the 2023 general elections in the affected states.

The withdrawals were communicated to INEC by the National Chairman and National Secretary of the party along with notification of October 27 date to conduct substitution nomination primary elections.

However, at the point of uploading the fresh candidates names, INEC claimed that its nomination portal was faulty and declined to accept the candidates list manually promoting the 24 legal actions.

Justice Ekwo added that the evidence of the Labour Party through exchanged letters with INEC in the nomination issue was credible and proceeded to attach probative value to it.

The Judge held that the consequences of non functional electronic nomination portal cannot be visited on the Labour Party.

Justice Ekwo agreed with the Labour Party that nomination and submission of candidates list cannot be rejected by INEC from any party until 90 days to the general elections.

The judge said that the time the Labour Party sought to submit list of its candidates in the 24 States was more than 90 days to the 2023 general elections, hence, it is within time allowed by law.

Justice Ekwo held that INEC was bound to accept the Labour Party’s candidates list manually once its electronic nomination portal is faulty.

The judge subsequently ordered INEC to open its website for the purpose of allowing the Labour Party to submit list of its candidates or accept same manually with immediate effect for the purpose of the 2023 general elections.

Hot this week

Editors Urge Government To Create Safe, Enabling Environment For Journalists

· Ask security agents to find missing Vanguard journalist As...

EXCLUSIVE: Buhari orders probe of Isa Funtua, AMCON over keystone and Etisalat

Following the controversy generated by the leading opposition party,...

6 Signs your boyfriend thinks you are ugly -Take note of No. 2

They say there are three kinds of people; the...

2023: South-East, Middle Belt Forum Endorses Peter Obi

The South-East and Middle Belt Forum has endorsed the...

Arokodare Scores as Super Eagles Hold Russia to 1-1 Draw

Tolu Arokodare opened his Super Eagles goal account as...

Strong Capital Market Key to Nigeria’s Economic Future – NGX Chairman

Chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX), Dr. Umaru...

Veteran Highlife Legend Mike Ejeagha Dies at 95

Renowned highlife musician and folklorist Mike Ejeagha, famed for...

Eid-el-Kabir: Northern CAN Greets Muslims, Urges Govt Action on Security

By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN),...

Sultan Commends Sokoto Governor for Delegating Authority to Deputy

The Sultan of Sokoto and spiritual leader of Nigeria’s...

Eid Mubarak: NUJ FCTA Chapel Felicitates with Muslim Journalists, Prays for Peace and Unity

By Joyce Babayeju As Muslim faithful across Nigeria and the...

Eid-El-Kabir: Fatimah Observes Prayers with Kogites in Eika Ohizenyi

By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja The Kogi State Commissioner for Women...

Former Chief Justice Mohammed Uwais Passes Away at 89

Former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mohammed Uwais, has...
spot_img

Related Articles

Popular Categories

spot_imgspot_img