The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has said it would not join issues with the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, over petitions before the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal insisting it would amount to sub-judice.
National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, INEC, Mr. Festus Okoye, said this in a statement issued in Abuja.
Reacting to claims by the PDP that INEC refused to release to it election materials used for the conduct of the Feb. 23, presidential poll as ordered by the presidential election petitions tribunal, Okoye recalled that there were petitions pending before the tribunal where all parties in suit had filed their papers and responses.
“The commission is aware that very senior lawyers are representing the petitioners and the respondents in relation to the said petitions.
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“The commission is a Iaw-abiding institution and will not argue or canvass in the media, petitions that are sub-judice, and where the presidential election petitions tribunal is firmly seized of the issues.
“The lawyers representing the petitioners are seized of the state of the law and the course to take if they truly believe that the commission is in disobedience of the orders of the presidential election petitions tribunal.
“The commission is a Iaw-abiding institution and will continue to accord the requisite respect to judicial institutions and obey the orders of courts,’’ he said.
Recall that PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan had on Monday, accused INEC of refusing the party access to election materials used for the Feb. 23, presidential poll as ordered by the Court of Appeal.
Ologbondiyan said the continued refusal of INEC to release the electoral materials to the party and its legal team showed that the commission was working with the All Progressives Congress, APC and the Presidency to frustrate the PDP and its candidate.
The PPD spokesman said the materials included forms EC8D and EC40G covering the nation, in addition to the report of the smart card readers.
