Court Stops Action Alliance From Contesting November 16 Governorship Polls In Kogi, Bayelsa

By Bimbo Ogunnaike

The Federal High Court, Abuja, presided over by Justice Inyang Ekwo, has ruled that the Action Alliance (AA) was no longer eligible to field candidates for the November 16 governorship elections in Bayelsa and Kogi States.

Ekwo said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) guidelines stipulate that all political parties must have submitted their nomination forms by 6pm of September 9 for the elections.

The judge, who gave the ruling on Monday, said that the party failed to abide by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s guidelines on the timeline for submission of candidates’ names.

The duo contended in the suit that having complied with the Provisions of 85(1) to (2) and Section 31(1) of the Electoral Act, INEC could not have validly rejected the nomination of their candidates for the forthcoming elections in the two states.

The plaintiffs  said they were given tag number 15, but an INEC official in charge of the collection of the forms refused to accept their forms when it got to their turn.

Delivering judgment, Justice Ekwo held that the plaintiffs failed to provide evidence that they were on the premises of INEC or attempted to submit their forms before 6pm on September 9.

“I hold that your case lacks merit,” he said.