INEC Suspends Certificates Of Return Issuance To Zamfara Polls Winners …Issues Certificates Of Return To Lalong, Others, Friday

The Independent National Electoral Commission has suspended the issuance of Certificates of Return to winners of the last governorship and House of Assembly elections in Zamfara State.
On its verified Facebook page, INEC said, it was just served the court orders cancelling the primaries conducted by the Zamfara All Progressives Congress.
The court order was issued by the Court of Appeal in Sokoto State on Monday.
The electoral body said, “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 elections scheduled for Wednesday, 27th March 2019 has been suspended.”
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
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.
The Court of Appeal, through the presiding judge, Justice Shaibu Yakubu, had earlier on Monday 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.
Justice Yakubu, who delivered the unanimous judgment, said 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.
The judge also held that 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.
He stated, “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.”
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission has said it will issue Certificate of Return to Plateau State Governor, Mr. Simon Lalong on Friday.
Also expected to receive their Certificates of Return are Deputy Governor-elect, Prof. Sonni Tyoden and all the lawmakers-elect.
INEC Head of Voter Education in the state, Mr Osaretin Imahiyereobo confirmed the development to newsmen in Jos yesterday.
He said that the commission had set up a committee with him as the chairman to work on the modalities for a successful presentation of the Certificates of Return to the newly elected politicians in Jos.
Osaretin said, “Yes, INEC will present the Certificates of Return to the Plateau State Governor-elect, Mr Simon Lalong and other elected state lawmakers on Friday. The presentation of the certificate to the Governor and his deputy will come first, followed by those of the members of the State House of Assembly.
“INEC has already set up a committee to work on the successful presentation of the Certificate of Return to their owners and as the Chairman of the committee, I can assure you that we are prepared to ensure that the occasion succeeds.”