The Court of Appeal in Abuja criticized the Independent National Electoral Commissioner (INEC) for partisanship during the Bauchi State House of Assembly election dispute.
The court expressed dismay that INEC, an entity entrusted to be an impartial arbiter, had favored a political party by disowning documents it had issued and certified.
Highlighting the seriousness of the issue, the appellate court emphasized that INEC’s role in elections is to serve as an unbiased umpire, maintaining neutrality in election litigations.
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The court admonished INEC for acting irresponsibly, stressing that the commission’s duty to conduct fair elections directly impacts the country’s peace and well-being.
“The role of INEC in election disputes should be limited to tendering all election documents and providing clear explanations of their purpose and origin.
INEC must cease ‘dancing naked in the market,’ pretending that its actions go unnoticed,” declared the court during the judgment on the appeal brought by Khalid Abdulmalik-Ningi, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate.
The dispute arose after INEC declared the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Suleiman, the winner with 16,866 votes against Abdulmalik-Ningi’s 15,065 votes.
Dissatisfied with the outcome, Abdulmalik-Ningi petitioned the State Assembly Election Petition Tribunal, alleging over-voting.
INEC, a respondent in the case, not only denied the over-voting claim but also failed to present any witnesses before the tribunal.
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Consequently, the tribunal dismissed the petition, but the Court of Appeal, in a unanimous decision, nullified the election of the Bauchi State House of Assembly Speaker, Abubakar Suleiman.
The court cited evidence establishing the inconclusiveness of the election, condemning INEC’s conduct as a breach of its impartiality mandate.
