INEC: Multiple Court Motions, Others Stall Action on Umahi, Other Defections

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday acknowledged the receipt of court orders sacking the Ebonyi State Governor, his deputy and16 lawmakers but said that it suspended taking action because the commission was waiting for the green light from its Legal Services Department.

Expectations are high as to the course of action INEC would take on the court judgment sacking Governor Umahi, his deputy and the16 lawmakers.

A statement by the National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voters Education Committee, Festus Okoye, disclosed that INEC was waiting for legal advice from its Legal Services and Clearance Committee which is studying the judgments and new processes filed against it in the light of the previously served ones in order to advise the commission comprehensively.

Okoye stated that the commission would meet again next week to decide on the matter and make its decision public.

According to him, the commission had been served with nine separate court orders and various motions from several courts on the matter.

 The statement from Okoye: “Just as the commission was about to commence deliberation on them, its attention was drawn to additional court processes served yesterday on the matter.

“Consequently, the commission decided to defer its deliberation on the Ebonyi cases and stepped down the listed memorandum to enable its Legal Services and Clearance Committee to study the new processes in the light of the previously served ones and advise the commission comprehensively.”