INEC Talks On Various Court Judgements In Imo North Senatorial Election

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared that it won’t take further actions on the Imo North Senatorial electon despite an Order of Court to issue one of the contestants, Ifeanyi Ararume with a Certificate of Return within 72 hours.

Reports have it that a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja and presided by Justice Taiwo Taiwo, on Thursday, ordered INEC to issue Ararume Certificate of Return as winner of the Imo North Senatorial bye-election within 72 hours of the judgement.

Hours later on the same day, an Owerri High Court presided by Justice E. O. Agada, gave an opposite Order, restraining the Commission from issuing Ararume with the Certificate of Return.

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He said: “As at today there are over 13 cases either filed or decided by the various Courts relating to the Imo North Senatorial bye-election.

“The recent ones relate to the judgement of the Federal High Court in Abuja and the ex-parte Order from State High Court in Owerri.

“The Legal Department of the Commission will meet and present a memo to the Legal Services, Clearance and Compliance Committee of the Commission.

“The Legal Services and Clearance Committee will in turn deliberate on the matter and present a memo to the Commission.

“The Commission will deliberate on the matter, take a decision and inform the public. Hence, these judgements must of necessity pass through our processes and procedures. We are not a Court of law. We do not have adjudicatory powers.

“We give effect to judgements and orders of courts based on their tenor, context and our understanding of the judgement or orders we have been directed to give effect to”, Okoye said in an interview with The Nation.