INEC MUST REMOVE AFFECTED CANDIDATES FROM PORTAL, OBEY SUPREME COURT — ADEYANJU

Lawyer and human rights advocate, Deji Adeyanju, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately comply with the recent decision of the Supreme Court on the Electoral Act by removing from its official portal the names of candidates affected by the judgment.

Adeyanju, in a statement, said the electoral umpire was legally bound to give effect to the decision of the apex court in accordance with Section 287(1) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

He stressed that decisions of the Supreme Court were binding on all authorities and persons, and therefore could not be selectively implemented or delayed by any government agency.

According to him, INEC must immediately take all necessary administrative and legal steps to ensure that its official records and candidate information portal accurately reflect the implications of the Supreme Court judgment.

Adeyanju said: “INEC must immediately comply with the decision on the Electoral Act in line with Section 287(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), which provides for the strict enforcement of the decisions of the Supreme Court by all authorities and persons.”

He further demanded the immediate removal of the names of all candidates of political parties affected by the judgment from INEC’s official portal.

The lawyer maintained that compliance with the judgment should be comprehensive and without discrimination, warning against any form of selective implementation of the court’s decision.

“Accordingly, INEC must immediately remove from its official portal the names of all candidates of political parties affected by the judgment and take all necessary steps to ensure full compliance with the Court’s orders, without delay or selective implementation,” he added.

Adeyanju’s call comes amid heightened attention to the legal implications of the Supreme Court’s interpretation of provisions of the Electoral Act and the responsibilities of INEC in implementing judicial decisions affecting the electoral process.

The development is expected to generate further discussion among political parties, candidates and other stakeholders as the commission moves to align its records and administrative processes with the ruling.