The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has complained of being thrown into darkness by the court over the candidacy of the All Progressive Congress (APC) for the Bayelsa State governorship election.
The Commission’s Chief Press Secretary, Rotimi Oyekanmi, answering questions when he featured on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’ programme, said that the commission awaits the court’s decision on the matter.
According to him, since the court had disqualified the APC candidate, Timipre Sylvia and an appeal is ongoing, INEC cannot make any decisions until a final court order is given.
When asked whether the APC has a governorship candidate in the state, Oyekanmi said: “This is the situation: when there are legal cases, you have to wait until the end of the legal issues.
“Because things can happen within a few days or a few weeks. If you have something today and the person is appealing to a higher court, you have to wait until the higher court takes a decision.
“What I am saying is that, when the final decision on that particular matter is taken, the commission will come out to say, ‘This is exactly what the situation is’. But please, let’s take it easy, and let’s wait till the commission takes that decision.”
The INEC spokesman said that the commission respects court orders, adding: “When a court order comes and says we should drop a particular name and accept another, we do so. And then in the remarks column, we now say ‘by court order’.”
