ZAMFARA SUPREME COURT JUDGEMENT: INEC REACTS

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has reacted to a Supreme Court ruling which invalidated the victories of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the last general election in Zamfara State.

The Supreme Court ruled that the APC did not conduct valid primaries in Zamfara. 

The court nullified the APC’s victory in the legislative and governorship elections in the state and said candidates of other parties who came second in the elections should be declared winners.

In its reaction, INEC said it had held an emergency meeting to consider the court’s decision and would take a final decision on the matter on Monday.

“Following the Supreme Court’s judgment delivered 24th May 2019 on the Governorship, National and State Assembly elections held in Zamfara State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) held an emergency meeting to consider the court’s decision.

“The Supreme Court ruled that the All Progressives Congress (APC) did not hold valid party primaries as required by law. It held that all the votes scored by the APC in the said elections are wasted votes and declared that the candidates of political parties with the second highest valid votes and the requisite spread should be declared as having been elected.

“The Commission will meet again on Saturday 25th May 2019 to further deliberate on the issues arising from the said judgment, while the final decision on the matter will be communicated to the public on Monday 27th May 2019,” the commission wrote in a statement.