ADC drags YSIEC to court in Yobe

ADC drags YSIEC to court in Yobe

By: Yahaya Wakili

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Yobe State has dragged Yobe State Independent Electoral Commission (YSIEC) to State High Court over its failure to serve us with any notice about the election.

The party also demanded the cancellation of the local government election conducted by the Yobe State Independent Electoral Commission (YSIEC).

This was contained in a press release issue, and signed by the State Chairman of ADC, Umar Kalli Alhaji, made available to newsmen in Damaturu, who said the election was characterized by irregularities and gross breaches of the electoral law.

“Section 4 of the 1999 constitution gives the Yobe State Independent Electoral Commission, YSIEC, power to organize, undertake, and supervise all elections to local government councils within the state, the release added.

“The ADC has not been properly informed by the YSIEC about the election for the submission of its candidates, which is a violation of the 2022 Electoral Act.

Adding that, section 29 (1) of the Electoral Act, 2022, tasked the political parties to hold a primary and submit the list of candidates to the commission not later than 180 days before the election.

The ADC revealed that it had written to the commission demanding the extension of the elections for the commission to regularize the process in line with the 2022 Electoral Act, but the commission ignored its request and went ahead to conduct the local government election.

Therefore, the ADC dragged the YSIEC before the State High Court over its failure to serve us with any notice about the election, which is a violation of the 2022 electoral act, yet the logo of our party appeared on the ballot paper among the 9 political parties that participated in the election.

Kalli stated that “the same YSIEC that refused to recognize our existence as a political party is the same commission that produced the ballot paper with ADC’s logo, knowing fully well that the party has no candidate in the election.”

When newsmen contacted the YSIEC Chairman, Dr. Mamman Mohammad said the commission was not aware of any case filed before any court by the ADC, adding that the election was conducted in full compliance with the 2022 Electoral Act.

ADC drags YSIEC to court in Yobe