By Disun Amosun
New Nigeria People’s Party NNPP has described the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC’s refusal to obey the Court of Appeal order to replace its candidates, as covered by relevant sections of the Electoral Act 2022 as politically motivated.
At a press conference addressed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Agbo Major, the NNPP said the electoral body’s selective practice of which court of competent jurisdiction order to obey or disobey represents a threat to next month’s general election.
NNPP noted that INEC’s action of refusing to officially accept its candidates list submitted to it in August and September last year, despite fresh primaries to fill vacant slots in three states represents a threat to the country’s Democracy and Rule of law and impugn on the Commission’s transparency to conducting a free and fair election.
The replaced party candidates who voluntarily withdrew from the party or their candidate positions are Senator Rufai Hangar who replaces Ibrahim Shekarau in Kano Central District; Murtala Garba replaces Rep Ibrahim Mikra in Taraba South Senatorial District.
Others are Adamu Mohammed who replaces Yahaya Gamaje as the party’s Yobe State deputy governorship candidate and Zakari Yau Hassan who replaces Hon. Mohammed Seidu Maikifi for the Potiskum Central House of Assembly.
According to Dr Agbo Major “The party approached the Federal High Court on 12th September 2022 on the matter and got a ruling in its favour ordering INEC to recognize the new list submitted by the party.”
“INEC appealed the judgement of the High Court at the Federal Appeal Court where the lower court judgement was sustained to the effect that the candidates must be cleared for next month’s election as INEC cannot and should not impose candidates on the party”, he said.
