Press Release
The All Peoples Congress (APC) Party on Friday January 5, 2018 heard from the National Electoral Commission that Yvonne Aki Sawyer’s nomination as APC mayoral candidate would be rejected by the Commission.
The Party also received word that Madam Aki Sawyer’s application for a change of her place of registration from Ward 396 at Regent to Ward 442 in Lumley was also being refused.
Based on legal advice that Madam Aki Sawyer was within her rights as her request for transfer was made pursuant to section 40 of the Public Elections Act 2012, the party took the matter to court, and obtained a court order restraining NEC from rejecting Madam Aki Sawyer’s nomination and also instructing NEC to transfer her registration from Regent to Lumley. With NEC having been served the court order, Madam Yvonne Aki Sawyer arrived at NEC at about 2:30pm on January 6 and proceeded to the 3rd floor where the nomination centre is located. Madam Aki Sawyer was accompanied by the APC National Secretary General, two party lawyers and her three nominators.
The Party presented the candidate to the District Electoral Officer who enquired about her registration details.
We then presented a copy of the court order directing NEC to immediately transfer her registration and restraining NEC from rejecting her nomination on the grounds of her transfer.
The NEC officials requested for time to comply with the order and to appraise their bosses. It was agreed that the nomination be deferred to Thursday 11th January to enable NEC take appropriate action and give them enough time to address the court action.
NEC cannot reject her nomination or refuse it as there is a Court Order compelling NEC in that regard.
Signed
Ambassador Dr Alhaji Osman Foday Yansaneh
National Secretary General - APC
Comments