Nigeria Federal High Court Rejects Appeal to Stop Local Government Elections

In a recent move, the Federal High Court in Kano has turned down an application by the All Progressives Congress, APC, to halt the upcoming local government elections set to take place on October 26. The apex court in Kano-state, through Justice Simon Amobeda, refused to grant the injunction sought by the applicants, Aminu Aliyu-Tiga and the APC.

In their filing, the duo, representing the APC through their counsel, Mustapha Idris, sought the court’s orders to restrain the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission, KANSIEC, from conducting the elections, as well as an injunction directing all parties to maintain the status quo. Unfortunately, their prayers were unanswered.

However, the respondents, comprising KANSIEC, the Kano State House of Assembly, the Attorney General of Kano State, the Independent National Electoral Commission, DSS, Commissioner of Police Kano, and others, have been put on notice to show cause why the court should not grant the relief sought by the applicants. The court subsequently approved an accelerated hearing in the case, with deadlines set for the filing of necessary processes to expedite the resolution of the matter.

To avoid any pre-judicial actions or decisions, the judge advised all parties to refrain from taking any steps that may prejudice the hearing and rapid determination of the case, with a hearing date now set for October 4.

Meanwhile, a regional court, the Kano State High Court, in a related development, intervened on September 24 to restrain 19 political parties from engaging in any conduct that might disrupt or negate the local government elections expected to take place in Kano.

As the campaign season approaches, this dispute highlights the tensions and politicking that often accompany regional and national elections in Africa. Stay tuned for more updates as this story evolves.