A Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday, December 4,
gave the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC)
permission to continue the supplementary election in
Kogi state.
Ruling on four suits filed before the court, Gabriel
Kolawole said while the Federal High Court lacks the
jurisdiction to hear the case, INEC should continue with
the supplementary election in 91 polling units as
scheduled.
Kolawole also said that after the election, any grievances
arising should be directed to the governorship election
tribunal.
He also wondered why individuals quickly run to the
federal or state high courts in cases of intra-party
disputes.
Court decides on Kogi supplementary election
Kolawole said only the election tribunal can entertain the
case.
He also advised the political parties to either approach
the tribunal or address the intra-party issues among the
political parties.
In addition, Kolawale struck out the suits by the present
governor, Idris Wada and running mate to the late Prince
Audu Abubakar, James Falake.
The judge in his ruling said both Faleke’s and Wada’s
cases lacked merit.
On Thursday, December 3, ruling on the matter was
adjourned after parties involved adopted all final written
addresses on legal submissions and applications following
the death of the flag bearer of the Kogi state All
Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial election,
Abubakar Audu.
James Faleke, the party’s candidate for deputy governor
had filed a suit over the decision of the INEC to declare
the Saturday, November 21, Kogi election inconclusive.
Faleke asked to court to compel the electoral body to
declare his joint ticket with the late governorship
candidate winner of the election.
He also asked the court to stop the INEC from
conducting a supplementary election in 91 polling units as
scheduled for Saturday, December 5.
The present governor of the state, Idris Wada, who is
also the flag bearer for the PDP in a suit asked the court
to declare him the winner of the election
Wada buttressed his suit on the grounds that he is the
second runner in the election and got the highest vote
after the late APC candidate.
Also, the candidate for the People for Democratic Change
(PDC), Emmanuel Daiko in a third suit queried the need
for a supplementary election. He asked the court to order
the INEC to conduct a fresh election in the state.
Daiko said it should be illegal for the APC to substitute
its deceased candidate. His suit is supported by a fourth
one filed by Raphael Igbokwe, a PDP member of the
House of representative from Imo state.
Contrary to all four suits, a fifth one filed by a lawyer
Johnson Usman asked the court to compel the electoral
body to stop all electoral activities in the state pending
the determination of the suits.
Following the Federal High Court verdict, the stage is
now set for the supplementary election tomorrow,
December 5, as the APC’s substitute candidate, Yahaya
Bello go head-to-head against the PDP’s candidate
Governor Idris Wada and other candidates.
The APC picked Yahaya Bello as its replacement for Late
Prince Abubakar Audu, who died on Sunday, November
22, and was buried on Monday, November 23, according to
Muslim rites.
The late APC governorship candidate was leading his
opponent Captain Idris Wada of the PDP by 41,353 votes.
The INEC declared the poll inconclusive and scheduled a
supplementary election in 91 polling units for Saturday,
December 5.
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