Court Dismisses Suit Against INEC …Over April Polls Timetable

A Federal High Court sitting in Ikeja yesterday dismissed a suit filed against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) challenging the legality of the timetable used for the conduct of April polls.

Mr Olapade Agoro, Chairman, National Action Council, had approached the court on January 20 asking it to determine whether the timetable released by INEC on November 23, 2010 for the elections was valid following the amendment of the 1999 Constitution.

He wanted the court to determine the validity of the timetable since the Electoral Act empowering it was still being amended by the National Assembly as of December 10, 2010.

The amended sections of the constitution were signed into law on January 10, 2011 by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Delivering his judgment, Justice Steven Adah held that the suit lacked merit and was incompetent.

He said it was the constitutional duty of INEC to fix the dates for the conduct of elections, adding that the suit had no locus standi and should be struck out.

Adah had on March 18 struck out an ex-parte motion filed by the NAC chairman asking it to restrain INEC from going ahead with the elections pending the determination of the suit.

Meanwhile, the Election Petitions Tribunal for Edo State yesterday, warned parties to desist from giving monetary inducements to members of the tribunal.

The Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Paul Elechi, gave the warning in Benin at the inaugural sitting of the court.

According to him, the Court of Appeal which appointed the tribunal members, is offering them decent remuneration.

He advised political parties with so much money to spend, to channel it to charity.

Elechi assured that every petition would be determined based on its merit.

He reminded the parties that the determination of cases would be guided by a time limit of 180 days, stressing that after that the petitions would elapse.

He advised the political parties to work hand in hand, and emphasised that the tribunal would not grant frivolous adjournments.

The chairman also solicited the co-operation of members of the Bar, noting that they were key stakeholders in the speedy disposal of cases before the tribunal.

Elechi said that as a judicial tribunal with the powers of a court, it would not condone any form of misconduct from the parties.

According to him, the tribunal would commence sitting by 9 a.m. everyday, including Saturdays.

He, however, said that the tribunal would not sit on Sundays and public holidays.

Elechi also announced that six petitions had been filed before the tribunal, one for a Senate seat and the other five for the House of Representatives.

A lawyer, Mr Ken Mozie, who responded on behalf of others, assured the tribunal of co-operation, adding that lawyers would be professional in their conduct.