A federal high court sitting in Kano rejected the All Progressive Congress (APC) application to stop the State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC) from conducting the local government election.
In a motion ex parte filed on September 20th before Justice Simon Amobeda by the APC and one Hon. Aminu Aliyu Tiga against the state electoral umpire, the Kano State House of Assembly, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, and 11 other defendants, the plaintiffs urged the court to grant an interim injunction to stop the conduct of the council election across the 44 local government areas (LGAs).
The plaintiffs also sought leave from the court for an interim injunction directing all parties to maintain the status quo, specifically instructing the electoral body to stay any further action regarding the preparation for the conduct of the poll in Kano, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
Additionally, the APC requested that the court grant permission for the bailiff to serve KANSIEC, the State Assembly, and two other defendants with all legal processes through any staff or officer at the office of the Attorney General of the state.
In response to the APC’s prayers, Justice Amobeda declined to grant the interim injunction. However, the court permitted the APC to put KANSIEC and the other defendants on notice of all legal processes.
The court also ordered that the substantive application be heard within five days, beginning from the date of service of the originating process and the court’s order to the defendants.
The presiding judge adjourned the hearing to October 4th, 2024, and expressed a commitment to expedite the hearing of the matter. He also issued a stern caution to all parties against any actions that might prejudice the hearing and swift determination of the case.
It is worth recalling that prior to APC’s failure to halt the conduct of the council election, Justice Ado Maaji of the state high court had granted an interim injunction restraining the APC, PDP, NNPP, and 16 other recognised political parties from taking any action that would interfere with KANSIEC’s statutory responsibility to conduct the council poll.
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