BEVERLY HILLS, January 08, (THEWILL) – Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja has stopped the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from conducting a fresh election to replace 14 Edo House of Assembly members-elect yet to be inaugurated to take their seats.
The electoral body was restrained from conducting any election to fill the 14 seats declared vacant, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit against the leadership of the house.
The state legislators-elect who instituted the legal action include; Victor Edoro, Washington Osifo, Vincent Uwadiae, Kingsley Ugabi, Michael Ohio-Ezomo, Sunday Aghedo and Chris Okaeben.
Others are Crosby Eribo, Aliyu Oshiomhole, Oshomah Ahmed, Ganiyu Audu, Ugiagbe Dumez, Uyi Ekhosuehi and Eric Okaka.
They had approached the court, seeking an order of interim injunction restraining INEC from conducting by-elections in respect of their seats in the Edo State House of Assembly purportedly declared vacant by the speaker on December 4, 2019, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
The suit dated December 10, 2019, has as respondents Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly, Honourable Frank Okiye and INEC as first and second defendants respectively.
Delivering ruling in the ex-parte with suit: number: FHC/ABJ/CS/1582/19 and filed by Damian Dodo SAN, on behalf of the 14 lawmakers, Justice Mohammed ordered that parties in the suit should not take any further steps pending the determination of the motion before the court.
Justice Mohammed, in addition, ordered INEC to file an affidavit in support of its position and to show cause why the interim injunction should not be granted before the next adjourned date.
The Judge ordered that the 1st defendant, Mr Okiye, who was not represented in court be issued with the hearing notice, adjourned the matter till January 28.
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