The Federal High Court, Abuja will on March 21 commence hearing on the objection of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to its order, stopping the commission from continuing with collation and announcement of results of Bauchi polls.
Justice Inyang Ekwo had restrained INEC from taking further action in any matters relating to the governorship election conducted in Bauchi on March 9, 2019.
Justice Ekwo, in his bench ruling fixed March 21, for hearing of all issues relating to the Bauchi governorship polls.
He stopped INEC from proceeding with the collation, conclusion and announcement of the result of the governorship election in Bauchi state.
However, in a counter affidavit filed by the electoral umpire insisted that the Federal High Court had no jurisdiction to dabble into a post-election litigation.
The counter affidavit specifically stated that the matter of post election was exclusively for the Election Petition Tribunal and not any regular court including the Federal High Court.
The electoral body further stated that the decision of the Returning Officer in respect of declaration of scores and return of candidate was the exclusive reserve of an Election Petition Tribunal.
INEC maintained that although the governorship election in Bauchi State was declared inconclusive, it however rescinded its decision based on facts that emerged later.
(NAN)