A/Court begins committal proceedings against INEC chair

The of Appeal, Abuja has commenced committal proceedings against the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmud Yakubu for disobeying its judgment.

The court had directed INEC to issue a certificate Court of registration to Young Democratic Party (YDP) as a dully registered political party as at May 2, 2015.

The court has issued Form 49 against the INEC chairman ordering him to show cause, why an order of committal to prison should not be made against him.

The party is pressing for an order committing Yakubu to prison for refusing or neglecting to obey the order of the Court of Appeal dated December 8, 2015, affirming the judgement of the trial court delivered on March 4, 2015 and dismissing the appeal by the electoral body.

The appellate court had in its judgement of December 8, 2015, granted all the reliefs of the party to the effect that it was a deemed registered as a political party as at May 2, 2014 considering section 78 (4) of the Electoral Act.

The court which dismissed the appeal by INEC directed that its judgement and that of the lower court must be obeyed to the letter.

In the meantime, the appellate court has fixed June 19, 2017 to hear the committal proceedings against the INEC Chairman.