Yakubu also said the commission had conducted 127 elections in the last six months.
In a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi,, on Sunday, Yakubu spoke at a retreat organised by the Federal House of Representatives’ Committee on Electoral and Political Parties Matters in Abuja.
“Each and every case that goes to court, INEC is joined and we have to hire lawyers. From the last general elections till date, we have been taken to court over 700 times. In fact, in the last one week alone, we have been dragged to court at least 12 times,” the statement quoted Yakubu as saying.
The INEC boss also said since the 2015 general elections, the commission had conducted 50 rerun elections in 16 states in obedience to court orders.
Yakubu reiterated the commission’s commitment to conduct transparent, free and fair elections in the country.
He said the high cost of organising elections, litigations and other factors were affecting the commission.
In its efforts to curb electoral malpractices, Yakubu said the commission was developing a comprehensive proposal for constitutional amendments which would be forwarded to the National Assembly for consideration and legislation in due course.
He said, “INEC is determined to conduct credible elections and conclude them according to the law. We will never conclude any election for its own sake. All elections must be concluded according to the law, processes and procedures, no matter what criticism we take. This nation has agitated for free, fair and credible elections and this is our commitment to this country and the process.”
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