Court stops Adamawa guber supplementary election

An Adamawa State High Court in Yola has issued an injunction restraining the Independent Electoral Commission from conducting the supplementary election scheduled for March 23.

The suit was filed by the candidate of the Movement for Restoration and Defence of Democracy (MRDD), Eric Theman, over the missing of the party’s logo on the ballot papers.

The presiding judge, Justice Abdul-azeez Waziri, issued an order stopping the INEC from going ahead with the supplementary election pending the determination of the case.

“I hereby made the following orders: The defendant herein the Independent National Electoral Commission is restrained whether by themselves, their agents, servants, representatives, nominees or rescheduled election or any other person from proceeding with the supplementary election with respect to Adamawa State governorship pending the hearing and determination of Motion on notice”, the judge ordered.

The case was adjourned to March 21 for hearing of motion for interlocutory injunction.

INEC had declared the Saturday’s governorship election in the state as inconclusive.

Reacting, the INEC described the court order as ineffective. The Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Kassim Gaidam, told newsmen that the law did not empower courts to stop the rerun elections slated for March 23.

“Though we are not aware of any court restricting INEC, let me tell you that court order will not stop any election’”, he said, citing Section 87 subsection 10 of the Electoral Act.