Confusion in Bayelsa as court stops LG election

There is confusion in Bayelsa State as a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Abuja on Thursday has issued an order restraining the state Independent Electoral Commission (BSEIC) from conducting the local government elections scheduled for August 10.

The restraining order was issued by Justice Venchak Gaba of the FCT High Court in a ruling on an ex parte motion marked: M/7079/19 brought by Micah Akeems and the National Rescue Movement (NRM), which had the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the BSIEC as defendants.

Recall that the plaintiffs/applicants had earlier asked the court for an order restraining the second defendant from holding the local government poll in the state pending the hearing and determination of the suit challenging the holding of the election.

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Justice Gaba in his ruling said: “Upon listening to a motion ex parte and accompanying affidavit by T. I. Iber, it is hereby ordered as follows:

“An order of this court granting leave to issue and serve the concurrent originating processes as per the writ of summons and statement of claim herein attached and marked exhibit MA1 for service on the second defendant, BSIEC in Yenagoa, outside the FCT.

“An order of this court granting an interim injunction restraining the defendants servants, assigns and privies or any other person under their directive or control from taking any further steps in compliance with the guidelines for the local government elections 2019 published and released by the second defendant with a view to proceeding to conduct the local government election in the eight local government areas in Bayelsa State fixed for August 10 pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed in the suit.”

The presiding judge later adjourned the case till October 9 for further hearing.

 

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