The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Monday said it will comply with court orders on the Anambra governorship elections as stipulated in Section 287 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic.
Two High Courts in Anambra have directed the commission to publish the names of Senator Ugochukwu Uba of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and Prof Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).for the November 6 election without further delay.
In their separate judgments on Monday in Awka, Justice Obiora Nwabunike, who presided over the case involving Uba, Valentine Ozigbo and the PDP, said the party erred by using what is called 'Super delegates' without vacating the Abuja Court order.
Speaking with DAILY INDEPENDENT, Festus Okoye, Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee of INEC however said the commission will not take decisions based on newspaper reports unless it has received the certified true copies of the court orders.
He said, "We don't base our decisions in the commission on newspaper reports or unverified news sources. Our decisions are based on certified true copies of order or judgments".
"So, when we are served with the certified true copies of the judgments, then we will look at it based on what informed our previous decisions and then we look at the court orders and see what specifically the court wants us to do. But we are not a court of law".
"Under Section 287 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, we have an obligation to give effect to and comply with the decisions of courts of competent jurisdiction".
"But we won't take any action or take any decision until we have been served with a certified true copy of the court order. When that is done, we will follow our processes and procedures and then we will make the public of our decision" he said.
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