Court rejects APC prayer to stop Kano council election

A Federal high court sitting in Kano on Wednesday rejected the All Progressive Congress (APC) application to stop the State Independent Electoral Commission from conducting the local government election.

In a motion ex parte filed on 20th September before Justice Simon Amobeda, by the APC and one Hon. Aminu Aliyu Tiga against the state electoral umpire, Kano State House of Assembly, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and 11 other defendants, the plaintiffs urged the court to grant interim injunction to stop the conduct of the council election across the 44 LGAs.

The plaintiffs also sought the leave of the court for interim injunction directing all parties to maintain status quo and for the electoral body particularly to stay further actions regarding the preparation for the conduct of the poll in Kano, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

APC had further asked the court to grant the leave to the bailiff of the court to service KANSIEC and State Assembly and two other defendants with all the processes in the suit through any staff or officer at the office of the Attorney General of the state.

Responding to the APC prayers, Justice Amobeda declined to grant the interim injunction.

The court however granted APC to put KANSIEC and other defendants on notice of all processes.

It also ordered hearing for the substantive application to five days beginning from the date of service of the originating process and order of the court to the defendants.

The Presiding Judge adjourned the hearing to 4th October, 2024 with commitment to accelerate hearing on the matter, accompanied with stern caution to parties against any act that will prejudice the hearing and quick determination of the matter.

Prior to APC’s failure to foil the conduct of the council election, Justice Ado Maaji of the state high court had granted interim injunction restraining APC, PDP, NNPP and 16 other recognized political parties from taking any action that will tamper with the statutory responsibility of KANSIEC on the conduct of the council poll.