Wednesday, 23 November 2016

ONDO: Why Saturday's Poll is Illegal - Editorial




Image result for photos of Eyitayo Jegede, Jimoh Ibrahim and INEC Chairman
 OUR VIEW
The Court of Appeal panel led by Justice Ibrahim Salauwa on Tuesday set aside the ruling of Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court which recognised Jimoh Ibrahim as PDP candidate in the Ondo state guber poll.

The Appeal Court also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to replace Ibrahim’s name with Eyitayo Jegede as PDP candidate for the Saturday’s election.


We wonder why INEC is insisting in going ahead with the poll despite the fact that one of the candidates, Eyitayo Jegede, who was cleared today by the Court of Appeal, will be cheated. INEC has up to 23 January to conduct the Ondo governorship election, that is, 30 days to the handing over date.  So, any reason for its insistence in going ahead with the poll comes Saturday?
According to S34 of the Electoral Bill, Jegede’s name and other candidates’ names must be published 30 day before the election. And again, S45 gives 7 days to candidates to submit names of their agents to INEC. Which means if the INEC go ahead with the poll, who will serve as Jegede’s agents? INEC should at least pretend as if it has credibility, independence and integrity in case it doesn’t have them.

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