The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday said it will continue to comply with the superior jurisdiction of the Courts in the determination of issues in the electoral process.
The assurance was given in Abuja by INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr. Festus Okoye in his welcome address at the Review Meeting with the media on the 2019 General Election.
Mr. Okoye said “The Commission, being a creation of the Constitution and the Law will continue to be circumspect in commenting on or engaging in public debate or media discourse on issues and matters that have been submitted to the adjudicatory purview of the Courts and the Election Petition Tribunals. The Commission is not a Court of Law and does not have adjudicators powers. We implore media managers and practitioners to continue to study and analyze issues relating to the constitutional and legal framework in the electoral process. Elections and the electoral process are complex and complicated, and its rules and procedures are not necessarily subject to the ordinary rules of the Court.”
The INEC National Commissioner disclosed that “As part of its strategic initiatives, the Commission has revised its Communications Policy to improve both internal and external communication with the aim of serving the major stakeholders in the electoral process better.”
He noted that “The Media is pivotal to the electoral process and are the major purveyors of electoral information from the Commission to the Nigerian people.”
He recalled that “ During the build up to the 2019 general election, the Commission accredited international and domestic media organizations both at the national and state levels and provided basic information on the electoral process. The Commission also engaged the media and other stakeholders in the revision of our Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of the 2019 General Election. The Commission threw open its Situation Room and the National Collation Centre to the media, international and domestic observers as well as interested members of the public.”
He assured that “The Commission will continue to provide regular updates on its activities to the media and collaborate with the Nigeria Union of Journalists, the Nigeria Guild of Editors as well as the INEC Press Corps towards better service delivery.”
Mr. Okoye disclosed that “The Commission initiated this review for the purposes of self-evaluation, examination and stocktaking of what worked and what did not work during the general election.”