A Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday barred the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from continuing with its plan to collate, conclude and announce results of March 9 governorship election in Bauchi State.
Governor of Bauchi State, Mohammed Abubakar, who stood for re-election, filed the ex-parte motion before the court.
Abubakar had said he would resort to legal means in dealing with INEC’s proposed plan after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja on Tuesday.
The restraining order given by Justice Inyang Ekwo is to last till the determination of the suit brought before the court by the two plaintiffs – the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Abubakar.
INEC had initially declared the Bauchi governorship election inconclusive due to incidents in Tafawa Balewa local government area.
The judge had earlier ordered INEC to appear before the court on Tuesday to explain why the order should not to be granted.
But counsel to INEC, Tanimu Inuwa, instead filed a motion challenging the court’s jurisdiction to hear the matter.
However, Ekwo granted accelerated hearing on the matter and ordered parties to appear before the court on March 20 to present their positions in the substantive matter.
