A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has dismissed the order stopping the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from collating Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area election results for the Bauchi Governorship election.
It will be recalled that Justice Inyang Ekwo made the order halting the collation on Tuesday following an ex parte application filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the incumbent governor of the state, Mohammed Abubakar.
The judge granted an interim injunction restraining INEC from resuming, concluding and announcing the governorship election result in Bauchi State pending the determination of all issues raised by the APC and Gov. Abubakar in their originating summons.
However, the Presiding Judge, Justice Iyang Ekwo, on Monday ruled that the court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the matter.
Recall that INEC’s Returning Officer; Kyari Mohammed had rejected the result of Tafawa Balewa Local Government as it was not documented in the original sheet, which he said had been hijacked by thugs.
INEC thereafter declared the election inconclusive and fixed the date for a supplementary election. However, a committee it instituted to review the election recommended resumption of result collation which ought to have taken place on Wednesday March 20, but Abubakar challenged the process in court, prompting INEC not to announce a winner despite conducting supplementary election three days later.
Dismissing the suit, Justice Ekwo, said, “There is no debate that the issues of election are completely handled exclusively by the tribunal… I make an order dismissing this case. The defendant (INEC) should be allowed to continue its constitutional duty”.
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