The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has
said it will not be in any “illicit” liaison with any individual or group.
The commission said this in reaction to an allegation by the
senatorial candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Shehu Sani.
Mr Sani had accused INEC of hiring a personal lawyer of
Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State to represent it at the National and
State Assembly Election Petition Tribunal in Kaduna.
The senator and the governor are political rivals.
INEC in a statement on Monday by its national commissioner,
Festus Okoye, explained it has a list of external solicitors engaged for the
prosecution of pre and post-election matters.
These solicitors, INEC said, are based in different parts of
the country and must have represented a variety of clients and interests in the
past.
However, they are guided by the commission’s Code of Conduct
for External Solicitors.
The commission further explained that in selecting external
solicitors, it is guided by the highest standard of ethics in recommending
solicitors to represent it.
Mr Sani is currently challenging INEC at the state election
tribunal for declaring Uba Sani of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner
of the Kaduna Central Senatorial District.
Uba Sani is an ally of Mr El-Rufai.
The petitioner alleged that the election was characterised
by massive rigging and other irregularities placing him third after Lawal Adamu
of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He also asked that INEC substitutes A. U. Mustapha, its
defence counsel, at the tribunal, alleging conflict of interest.
“We have enough evidence that A.U Mustapha is a personal
lawyer to Nasiru El-Rufa’i, governor of Kaduna State” Mr Sani said.
“He is the one representing Governor El-Rufa’i in a case of
defamation which he filed against me in four courts in Kaduna State.
“As a personal lawyer to El-Rufa’I, now hired by INEC in a
case where El-Rufai is a party – is not acceptable.”
INEC noted that the governor of the state did not contest
the senatorial election in Kaduna State.
The commission expressed its confidence in the solicitor not
to subvert the cause of justice.
“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 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 case to external solicitors.”
INEC said its solicitor is obligated to defend the election
conducted by the commission and the declaration and return made thereafter.
The commission also said it 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.”
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