PDP drags Justice Inyang to NJC over Bauchi elections

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday, petitioned the National Judicial Council (NJC) over what it termed “violation of the constitution and the Electoral Act by Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja.”

The party said Justice Ekwo presided over a matter that ought to have been handled by an election petitions tribunal in line with the provisions of the Nigerian laws.

The PDP, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, argued that in granting an exparte order stopping INEC from concluding the governorship election in Bauchi State, Justice Ekwo allegedly violated Section 87(11) of the Electoral Act, which stated that no court had the power or jurisdiction to stop any election pending the determination of a suit.

“The PDP insists that not only did Justice Inyang violate the clear provisions of the Electoral Act, the motion granted is also an affront to the electoral wishes of the people of Bauchi State who have clearly chosen their next governor in voting for the PDP’s candidate, Sen. Bala Mohammed.

“The PDP urges the NJC to save our democracy by taking an urgent step against the violations by Justice Inyang.

“In an affidavit sworn to by the PDP’s National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, in Abuja, the party notes that issues of collation of results and declaration of winner is a post-election event and, therefore, falls under the Electoral Act and constitutional provisions for the election petitions tribunal.

“The Chief Justice of Nigeria has constituted the various election petition tribunals in Nigeria to handle such cases and the assumption of jurisdiction by Justice Inyang Ekwo is an affront to the constitution and electoral wishes of the people of Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area and Bauchi State,” the PDP said.