By Chizoba Ogbeche
Abuja
The uncertainty surrounding the impending supplementary election scheduled to hold in Kogi state on Saturday may finally be laid to rest as the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court has fixed Friday to determine whether or not the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would still go ahead with the planned polls.
Justice Gabriel Kolawole, who heard four separate suits challenging the legality of the scheduled inconclusive polls, said there was the need for the court to take a position on the matter “so that INEC will not conduct the election under a grave shadow of doubt as to the legal or constitutional validity.”
INEC had declared the November 21 gubernatorial election inconclusive, even as the death of the All Progressives Congress (APC) flag bearer, Abubakar Audu further cast shadows on the commission’s decision.
Giving reason for its decision, INEC said there was the need to conduct supplementary election in 91 polling units to determine the outcome of the polls, which the late APC was leading.
Meanwhile, Justice Kolawole consolidated the four suits, even as he persuaded lawyers to the various plaintiffs to distil out three central issues for the court to determine.
Whereas the first suit was lodged before the court by the Kogi State Governor, Captain Idris Wada, the second suit was filed by the governorship candidate of the People for Democratic Change (PDC), Hon. Emmanuel Daikwo.
The third suit was filed by a legal practitioner, Johnson Usman, while the fourth suit was filed by two plaintiffs, a member representing Ahiazu Ezinaehitte Mbaise Federal Constituency of Imo State in the National Assembly, Hon. Rafael Igbokwe, and an electorate from Omala
Local Government Area in Abelijukolo Ife of Eche ward in Kogi state, Stephen Wada Omaye.
Though the incumbent governor, Wada, had in his originating summons prayed the court to declare him winner of the exercise, the other plaintiffs, however, sought for the nullification of the election as well as an order compelling INEC to conduct a fresh poll.
Sequel to the court’s directive, all the plaintiffs, led by Goddy Uche (SAN), narrowed the three issues for determination to include:
“Whether having regard to the provisions of sections 31(1)(2)(4)(5)(6)(7) and (8), 33, 34, 36, 85 and 87 of the Electoral Act, 2010, as amended, as well as sections 178-181 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, INEC, can lawfully conduct a second/supplementary election into the office of Governor of Kogi state on December 5, 2015, or any other date at all let alone accepting the nomination/substitution by the APC of any candidate on the basis of votes computed and credited to the deceased candidate of the APC when the new or substitute candidate was not part of the original election.”
Before adjourning the case till Thursday for all the parties to adopt their final addresses, Justice Kolawole warned the lawyers to limit themselves to issues of law, stressing that since the substantive fact of the matter with regard to the death of Audu is not in dispute.
He said: Counsel should therefore be moderate, brief and concise in their addresses by limiting argument to the three issues distilled from the four originating summons listed on the cause list.
“This is because time is of the essence as the court has to consider all the issues and deliver its judgment on Friday. The addresses should not be more than 10 pages and maximum of 15 pages. This case is hereby adjourned to December 3 for adoption of addresses. Counsel are to file and exchange their addresses within 48 hours.”
While INEC and the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), were represented in court, there was no legal representation for the APC.
Earlier, Uche told the court that spirited effort to serve the APC with the originating processes on Monday proved abortive owing to the bloody fight he said was going on among three different factions in the party.
In a related development, Audu’s running mate, James Abiodun Faleke, has approached the High Court seeking a declaration that election to the office of governor of a state can only be conducted in the manner expressly stipulated in section 179 (2), (a)(b), (3)(a)(b), 4(a)(b) and (5) of the constitution.
Among other reliefs, he also wants: “A declaration that by the combined reading of section 179 (2)(a) and (b) and 181(1) of the constitution, upon the death of a person duly elected as the governor of a state, the person elected with him as Deputy-Governor is to be sworn-in as the Governor of the state.”
Faleke has vowed not to accept the position of his party, which nominated Yahaya Bello as the new governorship candidate.
