Justice Abdul Kafarati of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission from going ahead with the conduct of Saturday’s governorship election in Cross River State.
Kafarati issued the order on Monday based on an ex-application filed and argued ex parte by Nmerengwa Alozie, the counsel for the All Nigeria Peoples Party, and its governorship candidate, Dr. Obol Patrick Okomiso.
Alozie and Okomiso are of the opinion that INEC had breached the provisions of the Electoral Act by not meeting the 90days set for the notice for an election.
Kafarati has ordered INEC to appear before him on Thursday to put up its own defence.
The court also ordered the governorship election in Adamawa State stopped but INEC was not served the order before the April 11 date for the election.
So the election went ahead, with the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Murtala Nyako, emerging winner.