INEC accepts Zamfara APC candidates for NASS, state elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has restored the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the ballot for National Assembly, Governorship and State House of Assembly elections in Zamfara.

The commission disclosed this in a statement issued by Mr Festus Okoye, a National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, on Friday in Abuja.

Okoye said that the restoration was in compliance Zamfara State High Court‘s decision, explaining that INEC had consistently maintained that it would always obey court judgments and orders.

“In the case of the APC in Zamfara, the Federal High Court, Abuja and Zamfara State High Court issued conflicting orders relating to participation in the two strands of elections scheduled for Feb. 23 and March 9.

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“While the former ruled that the APC, having failed to conduct party primaries cannot field candidates in the said election, the latter decided that it can field candidates having conducted valid primaries.

“However, the Court of Appeal, Abuja, on Feb. 21 set aside the judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja for `lack or want of jurisdiction on the part on the lower court.’

“This in effect means that the Zamfara State High Court‘s decision that the APC can field candidates for the National Assembly, Governorship and State Assembly elections is the only valid and subsisting order.

“Consequently, the Commission has today, in compliance with the said order, restored the APC to the ballot in the National Assembly, Governorship and State House of Assembly elections scheduled for Feb. 23 and March 9.’’