Justice Kunda of the Jos High Court has granted an ex parte order restraining the All Progressives Congress in Bokkos Local Government, its candidate and the Plateau State Electoral Commission from presenting any candidate for the forthcoming local government elections.
This followed a petition brought before the court by Hon. Peter Best Mallo, alleging irregularities in the conduct of local government primaries held in the state on the 23rd June 2021.
Mallo, through his counsel, Muni Ballo, had filed a motion on notice under Order 42 and 43 of the State High Court Plateau State (Civil Procedures) Rule 2020 seeking the order of the court to restrain the APC, its candidate and the state electoral umpire, PLASIEC from assigning anybody or otherwise presenting any person as the nominated candidate of the party for the forthcoming elections.
The plaintiff’s counsel had said, “We filed an Order of Interlocutory Injunction restraining the first defendant whether by itself, its agents, privies or assigns any other person acting through it, or howsoever from recognizing or further from recognizing the second defendant as the nominated candidate from the primary election purportedly held on the 23rd June 2021 or submitting the second defendant’s name to the third defendant as chairmanship nominated candidate of All Progressives Congress for the position of Bokkos LGA of Plateau State local government election pending the plaintiff/applicant’s substantial suit.”
He said the action became necessary because his client was aggrieved because primary elections were not conducted for the chairmanship position for Bokkos local government.
Ruling on the motion, Monday, the presiding Judge, Hon. Justice Kunda granted the prayers and ordered all the parties involved in the matter to maintain status quo pending the determination of the suit.