The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been ordered by the Federal High Court in Lagos to stop working with Musiliu Akinsanya, also known as MC Oluomo, the chairman of the Lagos Parks and Garages, or any of his representatives in the distribution of election materials and ad hoc staff for the upcoming elections in the state.
After hearing an application submitted by the Labour Party and two other political parties and their gubernatorial candidates, Judge Chukwujekwu Aneke issued the temporary interlocutory injunction.
The African Democratic Congress and its candidate, Funsho Doherty, and the Boot Party, and its candidate, Wale, are the two political parties that submitted the application in addition to the Labour Party and its candidate for governor in the state, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour.
Despite the fact that Abass Arisekola, the attorney for the parties, informed the court that INEC had received notice of the hearings, the commission—the lone defendant in the case—was not present throughout the proceedings.
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The applicants’ attorneys moved the application with an affidavit of urgency, made in accordance with sections 13(3) of the Federal High Court Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, Order 26 Rules 8 and 9, Order 28 Rule 1(2) of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2009, and the court’s inherent jurisdiction.
A lack of free and fair elections in Lagos State will seriously jeopardise the interests of his clients, who are plaintiffs and applicants, he further informed the court, so “it is in the interest of justice to restrain INEC from taking any step or further steps that may impose a fait accompli on the substantive suit.”
Judge Aneke stated, “I have listened to the statement of counsel and also examined the motion with affidavit of urgency and the reasons for the application,” after hearing from the attorney. The application had validity, in my opinion. I thus grant the interlocutory injunctive order.
Following the court’s issuance of the interim order, the applicants’ attorney pleaded with the court to shorten the time allotted to hear the substantive lawsuit because of the impending elections.
Judge Aneke approved the request for a shorter time limit and ordered that INEC be served with all of the court’s procedures before continuing with the substantive suit hearing on February 22.
Olusegun Agbaje, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Lagos, had earlier in February stated that the electoral body will collaborate with the MC Oluomo-led Lagos State Parks Management Committee to distribute election people and supplies around the state.
The Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) Atiku Abubakar campaign, however, later cautioned INEC against using the parks committee in order to protect the integrity of the election.
After putting a halt to the National Union of Road Transport Workers’ (NURTW) operations in Lagos, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu established the parks committee.
