Federal High Court Judgment: Elder Statesman says judgment strengthened confidence in judicial system
An Elder Statesman, Chief Hycienth Ngwu, says the latest Federal High Court Judgment on the electoral system has strengthened confidence in judicial system of the country.
Ngwu, who is a popular community leader in Enugu, disclosed this to newsmen in Enugu on Saturday while reacting to the import of the judgment.
He noted that the revised INEC operational timetable had put pressure on political parties.
According to him, the judgment was a bold move that has strengthened the confidence of most Nigerians in the Nigerian judicial system.
“The INEC’s revised timetable put enormous challenges and undue pressure on the political parties; thus, suffocating the system.
“However, the recent judgment has come as a big relief.
“The judgment will help reduce the undue pressure and enable the political parties choose candidates without rancour,” he said.
It would be recalled that the judgment was delivered at the Federal High Court, Abuja by Justice Mohammed Umar, on Thursday.
Highlights of the judgment included that INEC must never fix timelines for party primaries; that political parties have until 120 Days to submit candidates for elections and INEC should not impose earlier deadlines for candidate substitution.
The Federal High Court reconfirmed supremacy of the Electoral Act; the judgment also keeps open political defection window ahead of 2027 and INEC’s regulatory powers now under judicial scrutiny.