Court rejects APC’s plea to stop Kano LG polls

A Federal high court in Kano on Wednesday rejected an application by the All Progressive Congress (APC) to stop the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission from conducting the local government election.

In a motion ex parte filed on 20th September before Justice Simon Amobeda, APC, and one Aminu Aliyu Tiga against the state electoral umpire, Kano State House of Assembly, Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, and 11 other defendants, the plaintiffs urged the court to grant an interim injunction to restrain the conduct of the council election across the 44 LGA’s.

The plaintiffs 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 stay further actions regarding the preparation for the conduct of 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 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 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 already slated to be held on 26th October 2024.

The court however granted APC to put KANSIEC and other defendants on notice of all processes, while abridged the 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 4th October 2024 with a commitment to accelerate the hearing on the matter, accompanied by stern caution to parties against any act that will prejudice the hearing and quick determination of the matter.

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, PDP, NNPP, and 16 other recognized political parties from taking any action that will tamper with the statutory responsibility of KANSIEC on the conduct of the council poll.