The Federal High Court sitting in Akure has granted an Ondo State legal practitioner, Femi Emodamori, leave to apply for an Order of Mandamus, to compel INEC to publish the 2021 and 2022 Audited Financial statements of all registered political parties in Nigeria.

The court also granted Emodamori request for the separate audited 2023 election related incomes and expenses of all the political parties.

While ruling on Emodamori’s motion for leave to apply, Justice T. B. Adegoke held that the lawyer has sufficiently disclosed that INEC has a public duty under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), and 2022 Electoral Act, to publish the audited accounts of the registered political parties.

The Judge held that he has sufficiently disclosed that INEC has a public duty under Section 225 (1) – (2) and Paragraph 15 (d) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), and Section 89 (5) – (8) of the Electoral Act, 2022 to publish the audited accounts of the parties.

The court also held that the Lawyer Emodamori has disclosed sufficient legal interest in having the Audited accounts of the parties published.

Consequently, the Court granted the motion for leave and adjourned the substantive suit against INEC till 8th November, 2023 for hearing.

Emodamori, has approached court requesting for the certified true copies of audited annual financial statements of political parties in the country from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)

Emodamori, in a letter addressed to the National Chairman of INEC, said the request became necessary after discovering the electoral commission has not been alive to its all-important constitutional responsibility of publishing and directing the publications of audited accounts of funds and accounts of political parties as stipulated in the constitution.

He stated that Section.225 (1)-(2) and Paragraph 15(d) of Part 1 of the Third Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), and Section 89(3)-(6) of the Electoral Act, 2022 stipulated and direct INEC to publish audited accounts of funds and accounts of political parties.

Emodamori, who expressed shock over the development, noted that the electoral umpire has failed to live up to its responsibilities by not publishing and/or directing the publications of audited accounts of funds and accounts of political parties. (Nigerian Tribune)

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