What is your assessment of the Court of Appeal judgement of July 20, 2007?
The Court of Appeal judgement delivered on July 20, 2007 is valid and sound in law because it interpreted Section 34 of the Electoral Act 2006. It is the statutory responsibility of INEC to verify the reasons, determine whether that reason is cogent and verifiable in the circumstances of the case. In Ameachi’s case, the cogent and verifiable reasons that can be discovered from the circumstances of that case is that Amaechi was indicted. He challenged the indictment in court and lost. Therefore, at the time INEC received the letter of substitution it was already in possession of the indictment notice and acceptance of same by the Federal Government. INEC could not have closed its eyes in this circumstance bearing in mind that one of the reasons that will validly and legally disqualify a person from running election is if the person has been indicted by a judicial panel of enquiry. Given the ruling of the Supreme Court in the case of Atiku against INEC that INEC has no powers to disquali
