Stop dancing naked in market – Appeal Court slams INEC

The Court of Appeal in Abuja, on Friday, slammed the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, accusing it of being partisan.

Justice K. I. Amadi said this while delivering the lead judgment in the case involving the Speaker of the Bauchi State House of Assembly.

According to the Appeal Court, it was awkward for the Commission to appear before it to intervene in favor of a party in an election dispute by disowning documents that it not only issued, but also officially certified.

It complained that the electoral board had continued to “dance naked in the market,” despite the fact that it was supposed to take a neutral stance in election cases.

The INEC as an institution should be reminded of its role in an election; to be an unbiased umpire between parties.

“It should stop behaving irresponsibly, having in mind that its duty to conduct elections has a direct bearing on peace and well-being of the country,” it said.

The panel’s unanimous ruling voided the election of Abubakar Suleiman, Speaker of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, who had previously been certified the winner of the state’s Ningi Central Constituency by INEC.