The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Adamawa state has slammed a Yola High court ruling on Thursday which restrained it from conducting a supplementary election for governorship come 23rd March.
A Yola High court headed by Justice Abdul-aziz had on Thursday ruled that INEC should not conduct supplementary election as scheduled on 23rd March, following the request filed by counsel to Mustapha Shaba, a gubernatorial candidate of, Movement for the Restoration and Defence of Democracy (MRDD) over omission of its party logo from the ballot that was used for the gubernatorial election in the state.
Justice Waziri had ruled that after going through two affidavits submitted in support of the motion, by the MRDD party, the request had merit.
However, when Kashim Gaidam, the Resident Electoral Commissioner of the state was contacted, he disclosed the court lack Jurisdiction over the federal establishment, describing the ruling as undue influence.
He added, “It is an order of a state High Court which has no jurisdiction over federal establishments. It is very surprising indeed. Could it be an undue influence? Section 87 (10) of electoral law is also relevant. I am sure the commission will issue an official statement on the matter.”
After the first leg of the election on February 9, 2019, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, took a lead margin of 32,476 votes over the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Mohammed Jibrilla Bindow, who is struggling for a second term in office.
Declaring the election inconclusive, INEC disclosed the margin was lower than 40,998 votes that were declared invalid.
