APC, PDP win 11 seats apiece in house of assembly
Justice Abdul-Aziz Waziri of the Yola High Court on Thursday restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from conducting the March 23 supplementary governorship election in Adamawa State.
The ruling followed a request to that effect filed by counsel to the Adamawa Chapter of the Movement for the Restoration and Defence of Democracy (MRDD), Mr. Mustafa Shaba, over the absence of the party logo on the ballot paper of the inconclusive election.
Delivering the ruling after going through the two affidavits in support of the motion including that of extreme urgency, Justice Waziri, held that the request has merit and therefore was granted.
“After careful perusal of the a annexure of the MRDD 1 to 5 alongside written address of counsel urging me to grant the application, I am of the view that the application is pregnant with merit and must be granted.
“I hereby grant the following order.
“The defendant herein, the INEC is restrain whether by themselves, their executives, servants, privies, representative nominees or any other person or persons from proceeding with the supplementary election in respect of Adamawa State Governorship pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.”
The Judge ruled that all the processes relating to the suit be served to Adamawa INEC in Yola in compliance with Order 6 of the Court.
The case was adjourned to March 21 for hearing of motion for the interlocutory injunction.
Speaking to newsmen on the development, counsel to MRDD, Mr. Mustafa Shaba said the plaintiff, MRDD represented by the state chairman of the party, Ibrahim Umar, rushed to the court to complain against what he described as “serious infraction”.
“The party has come to court and fortunately the election has not been concluded to stop INEC from further breaching of the party’s candidate (Rev. Eric Theman) right.
“We want the logo to be place and the election to start afresh.
“What we apply for today is for Interim injunction restraining INEC as it is for now from proceeding until the needful is done,” Shaba said.
Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) have won 11 seats apiece in the Adamawa State house of assembly in the legislative poll held on March 9 while the African Democratic Congress (ADC) got one representative.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) resident electoral commissioner in the state, Mr. Kasim Gaidam who announced this in Yola on Thursday, said the ADC won the seat in Mayo-Belwa local government area.
He said the state has a 25-member legislature adding that “the two remaining state assembly election of Uba/Gaya and Nassarawo/Binyeri in Hong and Mayo-Belwa local government areas would be conducted on March 23.’’
Gaidam said the Nassarawo-Binueri State Assembly election was deferred due to the death of the APC candidate before the election.
“The Uba/Gaya State Assembly election could not be concluded on March 9 due to cancellation of results in some polling units,” he added.
Gaidam also said the eight seats for the House of Representatives in the state are shared four apiece between the APC and PDP.
However, he said while the PDP got two senators from Adamawa Northern and Southern senatorial districts, the APC won in Adamawa Central.
