The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Tuesday restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from conducting bye-elections into the Edo State House of Assembly, Igbere TV reports.
The high court order was sequel to a suit filed by 14 members-elect of the Edo State Assembly who were ‘prevented’ from the June 17, 2019 controversial inauguration.
The Edo Assembly speaker, Mr Frank Okiye had on Wednesday last week purportedly declared vacant the seats of the 14 lawmakers for allegedly refusing to present themselves for inauguration.
INEC had in December last year said it was still studying a letter from the Edo State House of Assembly demanding that bye-elections be conducted in the 14 constituencies that had purportedly been declared vacant.
But the court while granting an interim injunction on Tuesday barring INEC from filling the 14 seats, ordered that status quo be maintained until the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.
“I hereby grant the following order.
“The defendant herein, the INEC, is restrained whether by themselves, their executives, servants, privies, representative nominees or any other person or persons from proceeding with the bye-election in respect of fourteen seats of the Edo State House of Assembly pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice”, the presiding judge ruled.
The court, therefore, adjourned the case till January 28, 2020, for hearing.
