The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has defended itself against the claim by the senator representing Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani, that it engaged Governor Nasir Elrufai’s lawyer to defend it on the petition he brought against Uba Sani of All Progressives Congress at the tribunal.
The commission said it would not be in any illicit liaison with any individual or group to subvert the cause of justice.
Sani, who was the candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) in the just concluded senatorial election had accused INEC of hiring El-rufai’s lawyer, A. U Mustapha (SAN), for the ongoing tribunal cases.
INEC’s reaction was contained in a statement issued on Monday by National Commissioner and Chairman, Committee on Information and Voter Education, Barrister Festus Okoye.
The statement said: “The governor of Kaduna state is not a respondent or party in the petition and the Commission has no reason to believe that the solicitor appointed by the commission will subvert the cause of justice”.
The statement noted that the external solicitor appointed by the commission is obligated to defend the election conducted by the commission and the declaration and return made thereafter.
“The Independent National Electoral Commission has a list of External Solicitors that it engages for the prosecution of pre and post-election matters.
“These solicitors are based in different parts of the country and must have represented a variety of clients and interests in the past.
“However, the external solicitors engaged by the Commission for the prosecution of pre- and post-election matters are guided by the commission’s code of conduct for external solicitors.
“In selecting external solicitors, the commission is guided by the highest standard of ethics in recommending solicitors to represent it.
“The petition in this matter was filed by distinguished senator Shehu Sani against the election of Uba Sani.
“The governor of Kaduna state did not contest the senatorial election in Kaduna state and could not have been the major consideration and issue in the assignment of cases to external solicitors.
“The governor of Kaduna state is not a respondent or party in the petition and the Commission has no reason to believe that the solicitor appointed by the commission will subvert the cause of justice.
“The external solicitor appointed by the commission is obligated to defend the election conducted by the commission and the declaration and return made thereafter.
“The commission will put forward the facts at its disposal and allow the tribunal to adjudicate on the issues.
“The present commission has been upfront in the provision of documents to all the political parties engaged in election petitions and will continue to do so.”
