By Some Ogenyi, Uyo
An Akwa Ibom High Court sitting in Uyo has restrained the State Independent Electoral Commission ( AKISIEC) from conducting Local Government elections into the 39 newly created wards in the state slated to hold in October.
This was contained in an exparte motion filed by Mssrs Uwemedimo Udoma , Okuku Saaforo and Uko Uduak Friday before the state Chief Judge, Justice Godwin Abraham on Tuesday in Uyo.
In the motion, the applicants prayed the court to grant an interim injunction restraining AKISIEC from holding elections in the newly created wards as such act would violate sections 9,10,11 and 16 of the Constitution of the federal Republic of Nigeria.
According to the motion, “by virtue of sections 9, 10 , 11 , 16 and 19 of the electoral Act ( as amended) for new wards to be created and used for Local Government elections by any state , the respondent must register new voters in the affected wards , issue new voters cards and publish the particulars of voters in the new wards to the notice of the general public.”
Counsel to the plaintiffs Barr. Imo Imo told the court that AKISIEC has not fulfilled above conditions as required by Law.
Delivering judgement , the state Chief Judge Justice Godwin Abraham granted prayers of the applicants pending the determination of the substantive suit and adjourned the matter till 31 of August 2020 for hearing and determination.
In a telephone interview, one of the applicants on the matter Uwemedimo Udoma said the issue before the Chief Judge of the state is a constitutional matter that needed accelerated hearing.
” If the matter is not treated faster, voters in the newly created 39 wards in Akwa Ibom State would be disenfranchised in the coming local government elections in the state.” He said.
Udoma who is a former Deputy speaker of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly explained that voters in the newly created wards risk a one year jail term if the state electoral body does not address the matter as stipulated by law.
“It is not a matter opposition party. We approached the court as voters in our different wards facing this dillema . It is a constitutional matter devoid of political affiliation.” He said.
