From Suleiman Abubakar
The Nasarawa State Independent Electoral Commission ( NASIEC) has announced the indefinite postponement of the scheduled August 31st local government elections, citing court actions.
Chairman of the NASIEC, Barrister Ayuba Usman Wandai, announced this on Monday.
Addressing members of the Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC), as well as members of the press, Barrister Wandai said the decision to postpone the council elections was taken after the commission was served with a court summons by the Federal High Court sitting in Lafia, in a matter filed by one Paul A. John and 12 others against the Nasarawa State House of Assembly and NASIEC.
Explaining further, Barrister Wandai said the commission, being law abiding and having studied and analyzed the originating summons and issues contained therein, as well as it's implication on the successful conduct of the 2024 local government elections, decided to postpone the exercise indefinitely.
He said the postponement was pursuant to the Federal High Court summons challenging section 8 (e) of the. Nasarawa State Local Government Election Law 2018 and sections 3j, 3k and 9 of the Local Government Councils Elections Guidelines 2024.
"Pursuant to the above, the Commission has decided to postpone indefinitely, all scheduled activities leading to the conduct of the 31st August, 2024 Local Government Councils Elections," Barrister Wandai stated.
He disclosed that the commission has, however, instructed its lawyers to apply for an accelerated hearing of the matter with a view to enabling NASIEC to resume its normal election activities.
