October 8, (THEWILL) – The Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) said it had reprimanded the Legal Officer of its office in Kano State who wrote a letter indicating that the Commission had withdrawn from the appeal process in the ongoing Kano Governorship election petition case.
A statement by Sam Olumekun, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee,said the official was not authorized to issue the letter.
“The attention of the Commission has been drawn to media reports based on a letter written by the Legal Officer of our Kano State office indicating that the Commission had withdrawn from the appeal process in the ongoing Kano Governorship election petition case.
“We wish to state categorically that the letter was not authorised. It has since been withdrawn and the officer reprimanded,”Olumekun said.
He, therefore,advised the public to discountenance the insinuation that the Commission had withdrawn from the case “or even worse abandoned the appeal.’
“We wish to state categorically that where litigants join INEC in a case, the Commission is under obligation to respond accordingly.
“We have therefore instructed our lawyers to proceed in line with extant policy of the Commission.The policy has not changed,” the Commissioner added.
About the Author
Abdullahi Yusuf is a seasoned journalist, communicator and was previously the Deputy Editor-In-Chief and Zonal Manager, News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, Jos, where he retired on December 15, 2021
