INEC National Commissioner, Okechukwu Ibeanu Saturday said in a statement that the commission decided to draw the CJN’s attention to the court order stopping Senator Dino Melaye’s recall process.
The commission highlights that the petition was to prevent a precedent that could prevent the commission from carrying out its responsibility in the future.
Ibeanu said that the commission took a decision to obey the court which directed status quo to await the determination of the motion on notice filed by the Counsel to Melaye, Chief Mike Ozekhome, in order not to be seen to be disobeying valid court orders.
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He said, “Deeply concerned by this situation, the commission at its weekly regular meeting held on 13th July 2017, considered the court order and its implication for the Commission’s ability to carry out its constitutional function regarding the petition to recall the Senator.
“After weighing all the options, the commission decided that as a responsible organisation and in line with its longstanding tradition, it should not be seen as disobeying a court order, however inappropriate it may consider the order.
“However, in this particular case, the Commission also decided to take immediate steps to vacate the court order and for the matter to be heard and determined expeditiously. This is because the court adjourned hearing of the Motion on Notice to 29th September 2017.
“It should be noted that Section 69 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) sets a limit of 90 days from the date of the presentation of the petition (21st June 2017) for the exercise to be completed.”
