Court orders fresh bye-election in Plateau state

Nnamdi Felix / Abuja

A Nigerian Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Thursday set aside, the 6 October, 2012 bye-election in Plateau North senatorial district and Barkin-Ladi state constituency, following the death of Senator Yakubu Datung and state assembly member Dan fulani respectively.

Justice Adeniyi Ademola, ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct another election within 90 days and granted consequential orders against the duo of Sen. Pwjok Gyang and Hon. Christiana Danfulani to stop parading themselves as representatives of the affected constituencies with immediate effect.

The court also ordered the affected legislators to vacate their office as Senator and House of Assembly member respectively, having ordered a re-run of the said October 6th bye-election and awarded a N5million cost against INEC in favour of the applicant, the Congress for Progressive Change in Plateau state.

CPC had approached the court after its candidates names for the affected constituencies were rejected by INEC prior to the election that produced Sen. Pwjok and Hon. Christiana.

The court held that INEC no longer have the power to reject names of candidates nominated by political parties, following the amendment of the electoral Act 2010