The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega has dismissed fears that its lingering legal tussle with the newly formed political party-the Young Democratic Party could affect the conduct of 2015 general elections. “The YDP case will have no impact on the 2015 general elections”, Jega assured while responding to a question sent by theeconomyng.com under the hatch tag #AskJega, during a Town Hall meeting in Abuja.
Theeconomyng.com had earlier reported that the 2015 general elections may be scuttled by the outcome of the court verdict and declaration of YDP leadership that the ruling must be implemented to its letters by INEC. However, Jega in his defence, insisted that the claim by the YDP leadership that the party has been mandated by an Abuja Federal High Court to put them on the ballot paper for participation in 2015 elections was a hoax. “YDP officials went around to say that the court told INEC to put them on the ballot box and the court declared there was no such judgment,” Jega claimed.
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega has dismissed fears that its lingering legal tussle with the newly formed political party-the Young Democratic Party could affect the conduct of 2015 general elections. “The YDP case will have no impact on the 2015 general elections”, Jega assured while responding to a question sent by theeconomyng.com under the hatch tag #AskJega, during a Town Hall meeting in Abuja.
Theeconomyng.com had earlier reported that the 2015 general elections may be scuttled by the outcome of the court verdict and declaration of YDP leadership that the ruling must be implemented to its letters by INEC. However, Jega in his defence, insisted that the claim by the YDP leadership that the party has been mandated by an Abuja Federal High Court to put them on the ballot paper for participation in 2015 elections was a hoax. “YDP officials went around to say that the court told INEC to put them on the ballot box and the court declared there was no such judgment,” Jega claimed.
He also disclosed that INEC has sufficient evidence to prove that it did not err by refusing to issue certificate to the new party. “YDP wanted to be registered as a political party; we didn’t register them because we had sufficient legal grounds not to,” he argued.
But the presidential candidate of YDP, Alhaji Yerima Shettima in a swift reaction described the action of INEC leadership as mere ‘buying of time’ and postponement of doomsday. He said that the party leadership was battle ready and would not stop until justice prevails on the matter. “We have gone back to court, praying for interpretation of the rulings of the lower court. While I would not want to preempt court decision, but we are confident that we shall defeat INEC again, having done it before, Shettima said.
He went further: “Our confidence is based on the fact that we met all necessary requirements for registration as a political party in Nigeria, evidence of which we presented to the court; and that something went wrong somewhere. So, we are expecting the court to do justice to the matter and we believe it will surely prevail at the end of the day,” he said.
By Olisemeka Obeche
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He also disclosed that INEC has sufficient evidence to prove that it did not err by refusing to issue certificate to the new party. “YDP wanted to be registered as a political party; we didn’t register them because we had sufficient legal grounds not to,” he argued.
But the presidential candidate of YDP, Alhaji Yerima Shettima in a swift reaction described the action of INEC leadership as mere ‘buying of time’ and postponement of doomsday. He said that the party leadership was battle ready and would not stop until justice prevails on the matter. “We have gone back to court, praying for interpretation of the rulings of the lower court. While I would not want to preempt court decision, but we are confident that we shall defeat INEC again, having done it before, Shettima said.
He went further: “Our confidence is based on the fact that we met all necessary requirements for registration as a political party in Nigeria, evidence of which we presented to the court; and that something went wrong somewhere. So, we are expecting the court to do justice to the matter and we believe it will surely prevail at the end of the day,” he said.
By Olisemeka Obeche
[divider]