By Ayo Kehinde
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has planned to go ahead with the conduct of the supplementary elections in Adamawa state, saying it was unaware of a restraining order from the court,
The ruling by Justice Abdul-Aziz Waziri, followed a request to that effect filed by counsel to the Adamawa Chapter of Movement for the Restoration and Defence of Democracy (MRDD), Mr Mustafa Shaba, over absence of the party logo on the ballot paper of the inconclusive election.
Delivering the ruling after going through the two affidavits in support of the motion including that of extreme urgency, Justice Waziri, held that the request has merit and therefore was granted.
“After careful perusal of the annexure of the MRDD 1 to 5 alongside written address of counsel urging me to grant the application, I am of the view that the application is pregnant with merit and must be granted.
“I hereby grant the following order.
“The defendant here in, the INEC is restrained whether by themselves, their executives, servants, privies, representative nominees or any other person or persons from proceeding with the supplementary election in respect of Adamawa State Governorship pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.”
Speaking on the development, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Kassim Gaidam said the Commission would go ahead with the poll in the 44 units in contention.
He said: “You heard somebody who said their name is not there, but there are issues about those who withdrew from election before voting, some stepped down, some did not participate in any way. These are issues that have to be resolved before the Commission can take any stand. So far we have received no order from the headquarters in Abuja.
“But if there is a court order, the Commission would obey. So far, we are not aware of any court order”
