Olisa Agbakoba, a senior advocate
of Nigeria (SAN), says the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is
a neutral body which cannot take orders from the federal government.
Agbakoba said this in reaction to
the letter written by Abubakar Malami, attorney-general of the federation,
asking INEC to postpone elections in Zamfara state because of litigation.
The crisis in the Zamfara chapter
of the All Progressives Congress (APC) affected primary elections.
Malami asked INEC to postpone the
elections and allow APC prepare for the polls since the courts admitted that
primaries were held.
However, Agbakoba said it is only
the APC that can make such a request from the electoral body.
He also reminded Malami that
President Muhammadu Buhari had promised non-interference in the activities of
INEC.
In a letter dated February 14,
the senior advocate asked Malami to withdraw his letter, which according to
him, undermines the president’s commitment.
“I am shocked by your letter to
the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the above subject. You
are the Attorney General of the Federation and not the Attorney General of
INEC,” Agbakoba said.
“INEC is an independent
institution and cannot take directives from the Federal Government. If there is
need for the postponement of the Zamfara state elections as indicated in your
letter, the proper person to request the postponement is the All the
Progressive Congress (APC).
“In any case, Sections 38 and 39
of the Electoral Act 2010 which your request is based on have nothing to do
with postponement of elections.
“President Muhammadu Buhari has
at various fora undertaken that the Federal Government will not interfere with
INEC. Your letter puts that commitment to question.
“It is my hope that this letter will
be immediately withdrawn.”
Agbakoba also wrote Mahmood
Yakubu, INEC chairman, asking him to disregard Malami’s letter.
“INEC is an independent
institution and should not take directives from the Attorney General of the
Federation or the Federal Government,” he told INEC.
“ If there is need for the
postponement of the Zamfara state elections, the proper person to request the
postponement is the All the Progressive Congress (APC).
“In any case, Sections 38 and 39
of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) which the Attorney General’s request is
based on have nothing to do with postponement of elections.
“INEC should disregard the
Attorney General’s letter.”
Oga Olisa, today's shifting of the elections shows that the government have no regards for people like you. Stop waiting your saliver,just follow others and vote them out next week. Chikina
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