APC chief cautions INEC over Ondo council poll

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and governorship aspirant in the forthcoming November election, Niran Sule-Akinsuyi, yesterday urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to release the state’s voters’ register to the Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC) because the issue is still a subject of litigation in the law court.

Sule-Akinsuyi in a release made available to The Guardian yesterday said because the tenure of elected council officials sacked by the present administration is still a subject of litigation in the courts, INEC should have nothing to do with the exercise.

Sule-Akinsuyi, who was the immediate past state Commissioner for Special Duties, said, “There are pending litigations relating to the office of Chairman and Councilors. The matter is still pending in court. In effect, the state has been running local government councils with caretaker committees since then.

“The sudden decision to hold the local government elections in Ondo State at this time can only be diversionary. It will be difficult to divorce the motive behind this act from the governorship elections coming up in November 2016 in the State.

“While ODIEC is bent on holding the elections, we urge INEC to distance itself from contempt of court. INEC should not make the mistake of releasing the voters register and card readers for this purpose. INEC should note that the injunctive effect of the case in court is still operating because the case has not been decided.”