Court rejects APC’s prayer to stop Kano council poll
A federal High Court sitting in Kano, yesterday, rejected an All Progressives Congress (APC) application to stop the State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC) from conducting council elections on October 26.
In a motion ex parte filed on September 20 before Justice Simon Amobeda by the opposition party, one Honourable Aminu Aliyu Tiga against the electoral umpire, Kano State House of Assembly, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and 11 others, the plaintiffs urged the court to grant an interim injunction to restrain the conduct of the council poll across the state’s 44 council areas.
They also sought the leave of the court for an interim injunction directing all parties to maintain the status quo and for the electoral body particularly to take further action regarding the preparation for the poll in Kano, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
APC had further asked the court to grant leave to the bailiff of the court to service KANSIEC and the State Assembly and two other defendants with all the processes in the suit through any staff or officer at the office of the Attorney General of the state.
Responding to APC’s prayers, Justice Amobeda declined to grant an interim injunction seeking to stop KANSIEC from perfecting arrangements for the processes of the conduct of the council election.
The court however granted APC to put KANSIEC and other defendants on notice of all processes, and abridged hearing for the substantive application to five days beginning from the date of service of the originating process and order of the court to the defendants.
The presiding Judge adjourned the hearing to October 4, with a commitment to accelerate the hearing on the matter, accompanied by stern caution to parties against any act that would prejudice the process and quick determination of the case.
Before APC failed to foil the conduct of the council election, Justice Ado Maaji of the State High Court had granted an interim injunction restraining APC, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) and 16 other recognised political parties from taking any action that would tamper with the statutory responsibility of KANSIEC on the conduct of the poll.
HOWEVER, the Kano APC has vowed to defend its votes in the forthcoming election. State Party Chairman, Abdullahi Abbas, made the vow in a telephone interview yesterday. He said the party would soon organise its primary to pick candidates for the poll.
“We are doing everything humanly possible to ensure that our teeming supporters participate in the elections. “APC is mobilising its supporters to participate in the elections, with a focus on protecting votes and ensuring a peaceful process,” Abbas restated. He appealed to the electoral commission to ensure an enabling environment for all political parties, as well as free, fair, and credible elections.
While urging supporters to shun all forms of violence before, during and after the elections, the chairman said the party would not tolerate any form of intimidation during the exercise.
Related
Get the latest news delivered straight to your inbox every day of the week. Stay informed with the Guardian’s leading coverage of Nigerian and world news, business, technology and sports.
0 Comments
We will review and take appropriate action.