Skip to main content

Allegation by Shehu Sani: INEC replies, denies relationship with El-Rufai

- The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it does not have any relationship with Governor Nasir El-Rufai

- INEC tells Shehu Sani that even though its solicitors may have worked for some interests, they uphold the electoral umpire's ethical standards

- The electoral body further notes that Governor El-Rufai did not contest for Senate and, as such, cannot interfere

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reportedly replied an allegation by Shehu Sani, a senator representing a district of Kaduna, over claims it hired Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s personal lawyer.

INEC said it has no illicit relationship with anybody or group as it responded to the claim by Sani, who was a senatorial candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) in the 2019 election and who accused INEC of hiring a personal lawyer of Governor Nasir El-Rufai to represent it at the National and state Assembly election petition tribunal in Kaduna.

In a statement by INEC’s Festus Okoye, the electoral umpire said it has a list of external solicitors engaged for the prosecution of pre and post-election matters.

READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda

Premium Times reports that Okoye said in the statement that the solicitors are based in different parts of Nigeria even though they may have represented a variety of clients and interests in the past.

INEC said it upholds the highest standards of ethics in picking its solicitors, who are, in turn, guided by the commission’s code of conduct.

The electoral body also noted that Governor El-Rufai did not contest the senatorial election in Kaduna state just as it expressed confidence in the solicitor not to subvert the cause of justice.

“The governor of Kaduna state is not a respondent or party in the petition and the commission has no reason to believe that the solicitor appointed by the commission will subvert the cause of justice.

“The governor of Kaduna state did not contest the senatorial election in Kaduna State and could not have been the major consideration and issue in the assignment of case to external solicitors,” INEC said.

PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigeria’s #1 news app

Senator Shehu Sani, who was defeated by Uba Sani, an ally of El-Rufai, had wanted Mustapha substituted because of his alleged closeness to the governor of Kaduna state.

Legit.ng earlier reported how Shehu Sani reportedly called for the cancellation of the election that was held in the senatorial district on February 23.

Addressing pressmen ahead of the official announcement by INEC, Sani, a candidate of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP), claimed the cancellation was expedient following the alleged reports of violence, over-voting and ballot stuffing.

NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng. We have upgraded to serve you better.

2019 elections: Do you still trust INEC to conduct fair elections? - Nigerians speak| Legit TV

Source: Legit.ng



from Legit.ng: Latest Nigeria News Today & Breaking Naija News 24/7 http://bit.ly/2IwGPM8
via EDUPEDIA24/7

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Dust haze weather to prevail on Thursday, December 27

- The Nigerian Meteorological agency (NiMet) predicts thick dust haze weather conditions over most parts of the country - NiMet predicts northern states would experience dust haze - The agency also predicts early morning mist/fog is expected over the coastal cities The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted thick dust haze weather conditions with reduced visibility over most parts of the country on Thursday, December 27. NiMet’s Weather Outlook on Wednesday, December 26, in Abuja, revealed that the central region of the country would record dust haze condition with visibility range of two to five kilometres throughout the day. It added that day and night temperatures of 27 degrees Celsius to 34 degrees Celsius and 10 degrees Celsius to 20 degrees Celsius, respectively, would prevail over the region. READ ALSO: Police reportedly arrest Badeh’s alleged killers The agency predicted that the northern states would experience dust haze with visibility range of two to fi...
Post a Comment
Read more

N2.5bn Fraud: You Have Case To Answer, Appeal Court Tells Suspended NBC Boss, Kawu

The Director General of the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, Ishaq Kawu. The Court of Appeal, sitting in Abuja, has dismissed an appeal filed by the suspended Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission, Dr Moddibbo Kawu, challenging the decision of the Federal High Court, to dismiss the no-case submission he filed at the lower court. The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission had charged Kawu, Lucky Omoluwa (late Chairman of Pinnacle Communications Ltd) and Dipo Onifade, Chief Operating Officer of the same company, before Justice Folashade Ogunbanjo-Giwa, on a 12-count charge of money laundering. Is'haq Modibbo Kaw THISDAYLIVE The suspended NBC boss and his co-accused then approached the appellate court to reverse the judgment of the Federal High Court. The appellate dismissed the no-case submission filed by Kawu and his co-accused and held that they had an explanation to give when he elected to facilitate the payment of ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Buhari’s Legacy Of Recessions By Fredrick Nwabufo

Fredrick Nwabufo ‘Why always Buhari?’ As it was in 1984 under General Buhari, so it is in 2016 and 2020 under President Buhari? Is it by the unfortunate hands of kismet that recession hits Nigeria every time Buhari takes charge of the country’s affairs? If the recession of the 80s under Buhari was a conspiracy by economic and political factors, to what do we attribute that of his first coming as a civilian President — and now in his second coming? Why does pestilence scourge the land, hunger ravage the population and lives lost malevolently when Buhari presides over the country? Why always Buhari? Buhari’s undoing is his wonted predilection for hierarchising ethnicity, religion and loyalty above competence. Since 1999, no President has obtrusively shown a more nepotistic aspect than Buhari. It is unarguable that the President arrays the most competence-challenged cabinet ever in the chronicle of governance in Nigeria. Yes, a recession cabinet. Fredrick Nwabufo Here is a cabin...
Post a Comment
Read more