LG ELECTIONS: Bauchi SDP drags BASIEC to court over alleged violation of Electoral Act

The Bauchi State chapter of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has dragged the Bauchi State Independent Electoral Commission (BASIEC) to court over what it described as certain irregularities in the procedures adopted in the Bauchi State Local Government Area elections held on Saturday, August 17, 2024.

In the Initial Summons filed by their team of lawyers, led by Hyginus Ibega Esq, in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1186/2024, the Plaintiffs seek judicial intervention of the Court on Sections 28, 29 of the Election Law, 2022 on the schedule for notification to political parties of the general election and the schedule for political parties to submit their list of candidates.

The Plaintiff’s complaint according to the Initial Summons among others is that Defendant 1 arranged the election schedule in such a way that it was in clear violation of the Election Act 2022 and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999.

The Plaintiff/Applicant (SDP) filed a motion for a temporary injunction prohibiting the 1st Defendant from holding the election pending the determination of the motion based on the notice.

SDP approached the court for a “declaration that the 1st Defendant in conducting the general election in the 20 local government councils in Bauchi State, is obligated to publish the notice of the said general election within a period not later than 360 (days) before the day appointed for holding the general election in the 20 Local Government Councils in Bauchi State, with reference to the deliberate interpretation of the provisions of Section 28 of the Electoral Act, 2022

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“That the Guidelines of the Bauchi State Electoral Commission (BASIEC) for the conduct of the 2024 Local Government Elections which stipulates a period of less than 180 days for the submission of the list of Candidates to be sponsored by political parties in the said election is contrary to Section 29, 150 of the Electoral Act, 2022 and Paragraphs 11 and 12 of Part II of the 2nd Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, and is therefore null and void”.

He also wants “an order from the Honorable Court to cancel the implementation of the election of Defendant 1 or the results of the implementation of the election on August 17, 2024 or on another date that does not comply with Articles 28, 29 and 150(1) (2) and (3) of the 2022 Election Law.

“Order of the Honourable Court directing Defendant 1 to commence the process of conducting general elections in the 20 Local Government Councils in Bauchi State in accordance with Section 28 of the Electoral Act, 2022 by issuing a Notice of the date of the general election not less than 360 days before the date of the general election.

“Another Order of the Honourable Court directing the 1st Defendant to commence the process of conducting the general election in the 20 Local Government Councils in Bauchi State in accordance with Section 29 of the Electoral Act, 2022 by ordering the submission of the list of candidates by the political parties to the 1st Defendant not later than 180 days from the date of the general election.

“And any additional or further Orders as this Honourable Court deems fit/just to make in the circumstances of the case”.

However, Chief Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court Abuja ruled to dismiss the Plaintiff’s suit and ordered that the Defendant be notified.

The trial was postponed until August 29, 2024 to continue.

By Yemi Kanji

LG POLLS: Bauchi SDP drags BASIEC to court over alleged violation of Electoral Act first appeared on Latest Nigeria News | Headlines from Ripples Nigeria.