A Federal High Court in Kano has rejected a request by a faction of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) to halt the upcoming Local Government Area (LGA) elections set for October 26, 2024. The case was brought forward by the NNPP, with Engr. Muhammad Babayo as the plaintiff, who sought to delay the elections until a pending motion could be heard.
In their filing, the plaintiffs named several respondents, including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission, the Inspector General of Police, and the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS).
The NNPP’s argument was that the elections should not proceed until a full hearing on their motion, seeking a court order to maintain the status quo between the parties involved. This would mean putting the election process on hold until the motion was properly addressed.
However, during the hearing on Wednesday, October 9, 2024, Justice Simon Amobeda denied the request for an injunction that would stop the elections. Rather than granting the plaintiffs’ request, the judge ordered that the defendants be officially notified to present their reasons for why the election should proceed as scheduled.
The court also emphasized the need for a speedy resolution, with Justice Amobeda reducing the time frame for the hearing process. He directed that the case be heard within 72 hours of the court’s order being served to the defendants. Furthermore, all legal documents related to the case must be filed within 48 hours after the service.
The case has been adjourned to October 16, 2024, by which time the court is expected to receive and review the defendants’ responses to the NNPP’s claims. The decision made on that date will likely determine whether the elections will go ahead as planned or face further legal challenges.
