A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Friday ruled that it has no jurisdiction to hear the cases involving the inconclusive Kogi governorship election held on November 21.
The Chief Justice, Gabriel Kolawole in his ruling held that only the election petition tribunal had the jurisdiction to hear the cases before it.
The court ruling also held that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) can go ahead with the conduct of its supplementary election scheduled for December 5.
Kolawole, delivering his ruling, said: “Only the election petition can entertain this case. The court does not have the affirmation to make definitive pronouncements.”
The court received four suits from different parties over the November 21 governorship election in Kogi state and the circumstances surrounding the inconclusive elections after the death of the All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate, Abubakar Audu. The suits were later consolidated into one, with three issues outlined for determination.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Candidate, Idris Wada filled a suit requesting INEC to return him as governor, being the candidate with the second highest number of votes, following the passing of Audu who scored the highest votes.
In another suit, Audu’s running mate, James Faleke also asked the court to declare him governor following the death of Audu.
Also, Emmanuel Daiko, who contested the governorship election on the Platform of Peoples Democratic Change (PDC), asked that the supplementary election be declared illegal; Raphael Igbokwe (a PDP member of the house representatives), who asked the court to order the Independent National Electoral Commission (the first defendant) to hold a fresh election in the state, and Johnson Jacob, a native of Kogi state, who asked the court to cancel the election.
The court has now declared that INEC can go ahead and conduct the supplementary elections billed for December 5.
