INEC decries disregard of court judgements by political parties

Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmoud Yakubu has urged political parties to refrain from reviving legal cases which superior courts had passed judgment on.

Yakubu who made the call when speaking at a capacity building workshop for leaders of political parties in Abuja on Wednesday, frowned at the spate of disrespect for superior court judgements by political parties which has affected the activities of the Commission.

He lamented that the development has hampered the aspirations of  persons who seek to represent their people at different levels of government.

He blamed unwarranted litigations from some political parties and their candidates for stalling the conduct of the Anambra Central Senatorial District Election, adding that the parties revisited cases that had already been given judgment on by the apex court.

He said: “We are here to discuss so many issues like inclusive participation and internal democracy in political parties.

“We must try very hard to reduce the level of litigations among the politicians and political parties, even those cases that have been decided by superior courts are sometimes subjected to further litigations by political parties. Political party leaders must respect judgement of superior courts.

“It is these unnecessary litigations that have led to the non conduct of the Anamnbra Central elections till date because parties went back to challenge the judgement of superior courts at the lower courts. It is also necessary that parties must embrace the alternative dispute resolution process rather than approaching the courts at all times”.

Speaking on behalf of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Sam Eke while
pledging the support of political parties to the intent of the workshop, assured that “all the lessons will be implemented and that parties won’t remain the same.”

 

OWEDE AGBAJILEKE, Abuja