Kogi guber: Court to rule on restraining order Oct 22

By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja

The Federal High Court, Abuja, will on October 22, ruled on an interlocutory application filed by Social Democratic Party (SDP), and its Governorship candidate in Kogi state.
The party and its candidate, Natacha Akooti, is in the suit challenging her wrongful exclusion from the November 16the 2019 election by independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
Akpoti was said to have been disqualified by INEC for fielding Mohammed Yakubu as her running mate, which INEC described as an underage in the forth coming election.
When the matter came up yesterday, counsel for Akpoti, Ola Olanikpekun, SAN told the court that the party have every right to make any substitution less than 45 days to election.
He submitted that the only precondition made for withdrawal is in case of death or by voluntary withdrawal.
Arguing further, the counse drew the attention of the court to a letter communicated to the applicants that the name of the candidates and party logo will not be on INEC printout.
He, therefore urged the court to grant an order directing INEC to recognise Akpoti as SDP governorship candidate and also to make necessary substitution for the election.
They also sought for a restraining order on from further subverting the interest of the candidates.
In a counter affidavit, counsel to INEC, Magnys Inuoha, pointed out that SDP never had a valid candidate albinitio because the party submitted list of its candidate on 9th of September which is the last day of submission.
The electoral body maintained that consequent to that, the applicant does not have legal right.
In a short ruling, Justice Folashade Giwa-Ogunbanjo, earlier granted the applicants’ application for amendment for abridgment of time.
She, however, adjourned to 22nd October for ruling on the restraining order sought by Akpoti and her party.