By Omeiza Ajayi

ABUJA—The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has explained its inability to act on the report of a committee it set up to probe the conduct of the Imo North senatorial election and recommend the way forward.

INEC

INEC National Commissioner, Mohammed Haruna disclosed this in a statement yesterday.

He said while the commission has received the report of its probe panel, it would stay action as a result of a court case instituted against it by one of the parties.

The statement read: “Further to our statement of 4th April 2019 on the setting up of a committee by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to investigate the veracity or otherwise of allegations of misconduct in the Imo North Senatorial election, the commission wishes to inform the public that the committee has completed its assignment.

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“However, the commission has been served with an ex parte order halting further action on the matter.

“The order, issued by the Federal High Court Abuja on 9th April 2019, specifically ordered the commission to stay ‘all further proceedings and actions by the Respondent, INEC, pertaining, relating or connected with the declaration of Imo North Senatorial District election results of 23rd February and 9th March 2019, pending the determination of the application for prohibition.

“The case, which was instituted by Senator Benjamin Uwajumogu, the All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate against INEC a day after it set up the committee has been adjourned to 30th April 2019 for hearing”, the commission added.