The sacked Senator Simon Mwatkwon, and House of Representatives member Musa Agah Avia of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), have again lost their bid to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to include them on the ballot for the Saturday February 3, 2024 rerun elections, for the seats of Plateau North Senatorial district as well as Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency.
The duo’s efforts was, Monday, dashed out by the court ruling, presided over by Justice Emeka Nwite, having declined jurisdiction in the matter.
The court had dismissed their motion earlier filed and dated January 11, 2024 and moved on January 15, 2024 by the Plaintiffs – Simon Mwadkon and Hon. Musa Agah at the Federal High Court Abuja, in suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/26/2024, that sought for an order of mandamus, compiling the electoral umpire to include them into forthcoming rerun elections.
The Court of Appeal, had in a suit nullified the election of former senator Mwatkwon, and that of Reps member Avia, thereby disqualifying them from the ordered for a reruns.
Besides INEC, candidates of the Labour Party (LP), Barr. Gyang Zi seeking senatorial election, and Daniel Asama, seeking for House of Representatives election, also joined as plaintiffs in the matter, and urged the court to dismiss the suit for lacking in jurisdiction.
The INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, had penultimate week, via a signed presser, said the umpire will not include any new/disqualified candidate.
“The re-run elections are conducted pursuant to the orders of the Election Petition Appeal Tribunals.
“They are not fresh elections open to new/disqualified candidates which obviates the need to publish their personal particulars again,” he said.
