Court Stops INEC From Collation, Announcement Of Bauchi Election Results

Court Stops INEC From Collation, Announcement Of Bauchi Election Results

Justice
Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja today issued an order
stopping the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) from
going ahead to collate and announce the results of Tafawa Balewa Local
Government Area of Bauchi State.

Justice Ekwo gave the order while ruling on an exparte application
filed by the All Progressive Congress (APC) and the Governor of Bauchi
state, Mohammed Abubakar over the March 9th governorship election
conducted in that local government.

The APC and Abubakar are asking the court for a declaration that INEC
cannot review what a collation officer has cancelled. They are also
insisting that INEC, having made a pronouncement for a supplementary
election, cannot go back on it. They further maintained that the powers
of the electoral officer, having declared the election inconclusive,
could only be upturned by a court.

The court asked the parties to maintain the status quo until the substantive suit was heard and decided on.

The matter was adjourned until March 20 for definite hearing.

INEC had announced that it would no longer go ahead with a
supplementary election in Bauchi state but would continue with the
collation of results in the remaining local government area. APC and the
state governor is however arguing that the results the electoral body
says it will go ahead to read has already been cancelled by the
collation officer.