The Court of Appeal in Abuja lambasted the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on Friday, accusing it of bias.
This was said by Justice K. I. Amadi in the lead judgment in the case concerning the Speaker of the Bauchi State House of Assembly.
The Commission appeared before the Appeal Court to intervene in favor of a party in an election dispute by disowning documents that it not only produced, but also officially certified, according to the Court.
It said that the electoral board had continued to “dance naked in the market,” despite the fact that it was meant to be impartial in election matters.
“The INEC as an institution should be reminded of its role in an election; to be an unbiased umpire between parties.
“It should stop behaving irresponsibly, having in mind that its duty to conduct elections has a direct bearing on peace and well-being of the country,” it said.
The panel’s unanimous decision nullified the election of Abubakar Suleiman, Speaker of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, who had previously been recognized by INEC as the winner of the state’s Ningi Central Constituency.