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Political calamity befalls APC as Prof. Yakubu-led INEC says “no way” for elected officials

Political calamity befalls APC as Prof. Yakubu-led INEC says “no way” for elected officials

While elected politicians under the ruling All Progressive Congress in Zamfara State were awaiting the issuance of certificate of return to them came a powerful ruling that INEC should put its action oh hold.

Specifically, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was served with the court ruling of Appeal Court sitting in Sokoto State that APC in Zamfara conducted controversial primaries. What affects the party automatically affects those elected under the party.

Consequently, INEC issued a statement on its verified social media pages that:

“INEC has been served with the judgment of the Court of Appeal Sokoto concerning the sponsoring of candidates by the APC in Zamfara and is studying same.

Consequently, the presentation of Certificates of Return for the Zamfara Governorship and State House of Assembly scheduled for Wednesday 27th March 2019 has been suspended.”

It’s what some people have described as political calamity even as everyone thought the trouble with Zamfara APC was over.

The party in the state battled with last minutes legal tussle before the governorship and house of assembly elections.

The new development came at a time the Prof. Mahmood Yakubu-led INEC was issuing Certificates of Return to the 25 newly-elected House of Assembly members in the concluded general elections in Kebbi State.

APC won the governorship election in the state plus massive majority in the state house of assembly election.

With the court ruling, Prof Yakubu-led INEC says “no way” until all court cases within the party are amicably or legally resolved.

Recalled that the Court of Appeal had set aside the judgment of a Zamfara high court, which allowed the All Progressives Congress to field candidates in the 2019 elections in Zamfara State

Before the election, a Zamfara State High Court had recognised the primaries held by the APC and directed the Independent National Electoral Commission to accept the party’s candidates for the elections.

Justice Shaibu Yakubu gave the judgement today (Monday). He said the Zamfara State High Court failed to evaluate wholly all evidence presented before it before giving its verdict on the APC primaries in the state.

The judge also said that all evidence placed before the court had shown that the respondents (APC and others) did not conduct primary elections which accordingly, contravened the electoral law.

According to the judge, the party had made two unsuccessful attempts to conduct primaries in the state and list of candidates was not duly submitted to INEC by the national headquarters of the party.

“We have looked at the exhibits 4, 7 and 8 which are very clear that primary election was not conducted. Evidence shows that the state governor only appointed a special committee that later came up with candidates’ names in place of primary elections. So far, all evidence constituted that primary election was not conducted which contravened the electoral law,” he said.

APC, at the time of this report, was yet to react to the judgement, which is seen a huge setback for the party that has been celebrating big victory since the conclusion of the elections.

The legal battle continues.

Share your thoughts with us. What’s the fate of APC in Zamfara? Will PDP be the beneficiaries? Let’s hear from you.