Yoruba group’s suits against validity of constitution fixed for April

Election observers warn INEC against deployment of untrained officials for polls

The two court cases instituted by the umbrella body of Yoruba self-determination groups, Ilana Omo Oodua Worldwide, challenging the validity of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended), will come up for mention on April 13 and 28, 2022 at Federal High Courts sitting in Osogbo, Osun State and Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State respectively.

The Yoruba self-determination umbrella body is also seeking to stop the conduct of the forthcoming governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states, saying that the 1999 Constitution, which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) wants to use to conduct the two elections and subsequent elections in Nigeria is invalid because no referendum was conducted when it was enacted in 1999.

In a statement made available to journalists by its Communications Secretary, Mr. Maxwell Adeleye, Ilana Omo Oodua Worldwide said the two courts in Ado-Ekiti and Osogbo would, during the mentions, have a situation report about services on all parties and exchange of processes among the parties and the court would pick a date for hearing proper.

Akintoye urged all Yoruba people, especially the self-determination activists in Ekiti and Osun states to mobilise and ensure presence in courts in Osogbo and Ado-Ekiti on the mentioned dates for solidarity.

MEANWHILE, election observers in Nigeria have warned the INEC against deployment of untrained officials who cannot make proper use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).

They stated this yesterday in Abuja at a review meeting on the FCT Area council poll and strategy meeting on Ekiti and Osun governorship elections.

Convener of Situation Room, Ene Obi, said that there was need for INEC to harness lessons from FCT poll towards improving on subsequent elections.

Obi said that the FCT election, like other by-elections slated for 2022, was an opportunity to consolidate on the improvement of the electoral process ahead of Ekiti and Osun polls.

Court fixes April 13, 28 for mentions suit against validity of 1999 Constitution by Ilana Omo Oodua