The Independent National Electoral Commission of Nigeria, INEC has said its decision to bar Vice-President Atiku Abubakar from the April Presidential election was final, insisting that no court can upturn the decision of the electoral body.
This is even as INEC commissioners are divided over what sources called a “selective omission” of candidate names from the April election.
Sources informed Pointblanknews that Chairman of the electoral body Professor Maurice Iwu, had told his commissioners that as far as the case of Atiku Abubakar was concern, the decision of the electoral body is final.
“Iwu was very blunt and he did not mince words when he said the decision to remove Atiku from the Presidential polls was final. This is even what is causing some disaffection among the commissioners who feels the electoral body is being controlled from the presidency,” a source hinted.
The sources hinted that at a meeting last week while some commissioners tried to raise their concerns about the credibility of the electoral body being at stake, the INEC chairman had overruled that no one can change the decision. Some commissioners were said to have left the meeting in protest.
However, chairman of the electoral body, Professor Iwu
while unveiling the names of candidates cleared to
contest the elections cited indictment of the Vice
president by an administrative panel set up by
president Obasanjo as reasons for the non-inclusion of
Atiku's name.
He said rather than blame INEC for Atiku's woes, the
commission was only obeying the tenets of the
constitution.
The vice president and his party have consistently
said they would challenge the decision in court.
But in country hugely limited by dilapidated
infrastructure and the short period within which the
elections would hold, it is very difficult to see how
the judiciary would help Atiku now before the
elections are held.
Ballot papers are already being printed with the party
logos and pictures of candidates on them. Atiku's
political party and his picture will not likely be
included even when he wins at the court.
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