The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has approached the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) to intervene in the recall process of Sen. Dino Melaye which was stopped by the federal high court, Abuja.

Prof. Okechukwu Ibeanu, National Commissioner and acting Chairman of INEC explained in a statement he issued on Saturday in Abuja said that the attention of the commission had been drawn to some media reports about its decision to obey the court order.

He said: “On the July 10, INEC received an order given by the Federal High Court, Abuja, and dated July 6.’’

He said that the order in respect to suit filed by Melaye, directed the “parties to maintain the status quo till the determination of the plaintiff’s motion on notice.’’

Ibeanu added that the Judge, in granting the relief sought by the Senator, also fixed Sept. 29 as the date to hear the Motion on Notice.

He said that by this date, the 90-day time-frame established by the Constitution for the entire recall process to be completed, would have lapsed.

He said that deeply concerned by this situation, INEC considered the court order and its implication for the Commission’s ability to carry out its constitutional function regarding the petition to recall the Senator.

He stated that after weighing all the options, the Commission, as a responsible organization, decided that it should not be seen to be disobeying a court order, “however inappropriate it may consider the order”.

“However, in this particular case, the Commission also decided to take immediate steps to vacate the court order and for the matter to be heard and determined expeditiously.

This, he said, was to ensure that the case was determined within a limit of 90 days from the date of the presentation of the petition that the exercise must be completed.

Ibeanu added that INEC also decided to draw the attention of the Chief Justice of Nigeria to the order, in view of its effect on the performance of the its constitutional duty to conduct the referendum for the recall.



http://regulusnews.com/2017/07/16/melaye-inec-seeks-intervention-of-chief-justice/

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INEC should go and sleep and stop being a tool in the hands of Yahaya Bello

Which one is acting chairman of INEC? What happened to the substantive chairman?

INEC should approach Court of Appeal to vacate the kangaroo order of the High Court

Treacherous judge indeed