The Adamawa supplementary election which was set to hold on Saturday 23rd has been put on hold. Justice Abdulazeez Waziri of the Adamawa state High Court on Thursday in Yola has re-adjourned ruling on the counter motion filed by the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), which was seeking to vacate the motion ex-parte restraining INEC from conducting a supplementary Governorship election.
The Judge revealed his health condition is responsible for the delay of ruling on the matter on Thursday. He, therefore, adjourned the sitting till Tuesday next week.
Commenting on the court decision, counsel to INEC, Tanimu Inuwa said, “ as far as am concerned, it is a normal day” he revealed the election empire has conversed for its position, because the plaintiff wanted to halt us from conducting the supplementary election for the reason that they were excluded.
"Our position is that the court lack jurisdiction, because by the provisions of both the Electoral Act and the Constitution, it’s only a relevant tribunal that can entertain this matter.
"Meanwhile the commission had published the list of candidates for the governorship election in Adamawa 30 days to the election, however, they failed to make case for their candidate, where were they? Assuming that this election, were to be conclusive where the winner emerges, what would have been there reaction?
"Fundamentally though, our argument is that the court does not have jurisdiction. However, there's no material evidence placed before this court to warrant entertaining their prayer.”
With the adjournment, it is now gearing that supplementary governorship election would not hold on Saturday, March 23, 2019, as scheduled, more so that Kassim Gaidam, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in charge of Adamawa has revealed that the commission has "a very good tradition of compliance with court orders".
