INEC chairman:We have over 200 lawsuits as a result of party primaries

By G9ija

The Independent National Electoral Commission has over 200 cases pending in court.

The cases were instituted against the commission following the crisis that marred some political parties’ primary elections.

This was disclosed by INEC chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, on Tuesday, November 13.

Professor Mahmood identified some challenges the commission is facing as the 2019 general elections approach The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has said the commission has over 200 lawsuits as a result of the crisis that marred some political parties’ primary elections. Professor Mahmood made the disclosure during his delivery of a keynote address at the 6th Convocation Lecture of Oduduwa University in Ipetumodu on Tuesday, November 13.

Punch reports that Professor Mahmood spoke on “The Independent National Electoral Commission and the Challenges and Prospects of Leadership Recruitment for Good Governance in Nigeria”.

the INEC boss, however, said the commission was ready for the forthcoming general election, adding that the polls would be acceptable to Nigerians and the international community.

He said: “As we are approaching the general elections, the commission is more than prepared to conduct election that will be acceptable to all and sundry and the international community.

“In all fairness, the commission has drastically leapt up from where it was when democratic rule was resurrected in 1999.” According to Professor Yakubu, some of the challenges facing the commission include the growing trend of vote-buying, do or die political mentality, absence of internal democracy in political parties and poor management of intra-party contests.

He said other challenges facing the commission were inflammatory speech, insecurity, impunity and lack of consequences for electoral offenders.

the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said except for the delay in the passage of the election budget by the National Assembly, it was ready to conduct the 2019 general elections.