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| Chris Okotie's Party to sue INEC |
The FRESH Democratic Party said that it would seek an injunction to stop INEC from conducting the forthcoming general elections due to the party’s non-inclusion in the just-concluded Anambra gubernatorial election.
Legal Adviser of the party, Mr Kola Dopamu, said this on Tuesday while addressing newsmen at the party’s secretariat in Ikeja.
He said the party would also ask the court to stop INEC from conducting elections in Ekiti and
Osun states due to its refusal to recognise the party.
Dopamu said INEC’s refusal to allow the party participate in the gubernatorial election in Anambra was against the judgement of the Federal High court, Abuja.
“Our party was formed on the principle of pacificism, which means we always seek to settle disputes on grounds of justice rather than force.
“One would have expected that INEC being a democratic institution would give effect to the judgement and allow FRESH Democratic Party participate at the Anambra election.
“Before the conduct of the last gubernatorial election in Anambra, our party members in the state who were interested in contesting were disappointed that FRESH party’s name was missing,” he said.
He said most of their supporters in Ekiti and Osun were eager to participate in the forthcoming elections.
A constitutional lawyer and lawyer for the party, Mr Fred Agbaje, said FRESH party had to challenge the legality of INEC’s de-registration of the party in 2012.
“The party took INEC to court and the FRESH Party won the judgment that was delivered by Hon. Justice Gabriel Kolawole sitting at Court 5, Federal High Court, Abuja.
“The ballot paper for the Anambra gubernatorial election was released in August 2013, over 30 days after the judgment of the court was given.
“By this judgment, INEC’s de-registration of FRESH Party was declared null and void. INEC’s refusal to allow the party to participate at the Anambra poll is going against the law,” he said.
Agbaje noted that the party would not take it lightly if INEC failed to follow court order which allows the party to participate in elections.(NAN)