The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has been stopped from continuing with the collation of the results of the March 9 governorship election in Bauchi State.
The order to stop the exercise was given by a Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday following a suit by Governor Mohammed Abubakar of Bauchi State to that effect.
His argument was that INEC had no right to cancel the decision to conduct a supplementary election which it had earlier scheduled to hold on March 23.
He therefore sought the order of the court that INEC should be restrained from resuming, concluding or announcing the results of the Tafawa Balewa local government area of Bauchi State.
While restraining INEC, the court however said the order was pending the determination of the suit brought before the court by the governor.
The governor gave a hint about his decision on Monday when he visited President Muhammadu Buhari.
Speaking with journalists after meeting the president at the Presidential Villa, he said: “I came to brief Mr. President, I am not seeking any action of Mr. President. We all know Mr. President, he is a stickler for procedure. What I pointedly told him was that I am not here to seek for you to interfere on our behalf, sir but to brief you on what is happening and what actions I have taken.
“One of which is that I am a lawyer and I am pursuing the legal angle. I briefed him and he emphasized on that legal angle that it is the best way to go.”
The governor said it was surprising that INEC could cancel the idea of a supplementary election where the Returning Officer had rejected the result of Tafawa Balewa local government and then 36 other units spread around 15 local governments of Bauchi State and ordered a rerun.
“Surprisingly, we woke up one morning and INEC came up with a procedure that is not known to law. Because, where a returning officer has declared the result, only an election petition tribunal can reverse the resulst. But INEC is attempting to reverse itself in the case of Bauchi. And when one juxtaposes that of Bauchi and other states with inconclusive elections, one wonders why that is happening only in Bauchi State.
“So, for that reason there is a need for me to come and brief Mr. President because that has the potential of touching on the security of the state and it is our paramount duty to secure the state.”
