Lawyer, Adegboruwa wants INEC compelled to hold fresh Kogi poll
(Nigeria) Mr Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, a Lagos-based human rights
crusader and lawyer, on Thursday filed a suit before a Federal High Court
sitting in Lagos, seeking conduct of fresh elections in Kogi State.
Adegboruwa, in his suit, is praying the court to order the
Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to conduct fresh governorship
elections in the state.
Joined as respondents in the suit were the Attorney-General
of the Federation, INEC, the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP and the All
Progressive Congress, APC.
INEC had declared the November 21 governorship election inclusive and fixed
December 5 for supplementary election.
INEC also asked the APC to nominate a new candidate for the
supplementary election to replace late Prince Abubakar Audu, its candidate in
the poll.
Audu was leading the incumbent governor, Idris Wada, PDP
governorship candidate in the inconclusive election.
Adegboruwa said, ``Under Section 181 (2) of the 1999
Constitution, when it is impossible for the winner of an election to enjoy the
benefit of his mandate, the proper position is to conduct fresh elections.’’
According to him, the Constitution does not recognise a
situation whereby votes are preserved in memory of a dead candidate and
subsequently transferred to a new candidate.
Adegboruwa also challenged the directive of INEC that APC
should conduct fresh primaries to substitute the late Audu.
The suit has yet to be assigned to any judge for hearing
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