The Independent National Electoral Commission has solicited the support of the Nigeria Bar Association in handling its numerous pre-electoral cases in courts across the country.
The INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, made the call on Thursday when he hosted a delegation of the Nigerian Bar Association led by its President, Mr Yakubu Maikyau, at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
He said as of Feb. 6, INEC had been joined in 1,241 intra-party lawsuits in different courts of law, not on elections conducted by INEC but on primaries conducted by political parties for the nomination of candidates for the 2023 general election.
He said some of the cases had gone to the Federal High Court, some were before the Court of Appeal, and others were before the Supreme Court.
“On pre-election litigation alone, as at Monday this week, Feb. 6, INEC has been joined in 1,241 cases making us one of the most litigated against agencies in the country.
“These cases have nothing to do with elections conducted by INEC. They are primary elections conducted by political parties.
“But each time they go to court, they join the commission and we have to engage either our own in-house lawyers or we transfer the cases out to external legal firms to represent the commission.
“Out of these 1,241 cases, over 300 are right now before the Court of Appeal. And 155 before the Supreme Court as at Monday this week,” Yakubu said.
He, therefore, requested the support of the NBA in handling some of the cases, particularly pro bono service to the nation.
The chairman said the commission was not only committed to free, fair, credible and inclusive elections, but equally verifiable elections.
Yakubu said that was why the commission over time had been working to deepen usage of technology in Nigeria elections.
“It is not just those involved in the elections as coalition or returning officers, but even citizens must have access to results of election on election day.Related N
PUNCH
