The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday, disclosed that it has suspended its plan to issue Certificates of Return to the All Progressives Congress (APC) governor-elect and state Assembly members in Zamfara State fixed for Wednesday.
INEC deputy director of Voter’s Education and Publicity, Oluwole Osaze Uzzi made the disclosure in a statement on Tuesday.
He noted that the electoral umpire’s stance was in compliance with a judgment of the Court of Appeal, Sokoto Division which nullified the party primaries that produced its candidates in the just concluded general elections.
Tribune Online checks revealed that the Court of Appeal Sokoto Division on Monday set aside the judgment delivered by the Zamfara High Court which made the All Progressives Congress eligible to field candidates in the 2019 elections.
Delivering the lead judgment, which was adopted by two other justices, Tijjani Abubakar and Jamilu Tukur, Justice Tom Yakubu held that the lower court failed in its duty to properly evaluate the evidence before it.
Yakubu said judges have the legal power to produce judgment and reach decisions with reason, noting that in the instance case, it was not done.
The appeal was filed by Senator Kabiru Marafa, chairman of the Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream); and 129 others through his counsel, Mr. Mike Ozheokome, SAN.
