Tribunal Dismisses Motion to Stop Yahaya Bello’s Inauguration

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The Kogi State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, on Thursday, dismissed a motion filed by the Labour Party (LP) that sought to stop the inauguration of Alhaji Yahaya Bello as the governor of the state.

 

 

 

The tribunal, headed by Justice Halima Mohammed, dismissed the interlocutory injunction to halt the January 27 inauguration, saying that the application was incompetent.

 

 

 

According to the tribunal at its resumed sitting, on Thursday, the application, which would make the matter to be heard outside the pre-hearing session, should have been brought through motion on notice.

 

 

 

Counsel to LP, Mr Reuben Egwuaba, had approached the tribunal to hear the motion on notice restraining Bello from presenting himself before the Chief Judge of the state for inauguration on January 27.

 

 

 

The party argued that Bello did not have a deputy governorship candidate when the supplementary election was conducted on December 5.

 

 

 

“Consequent upon nomination of Alhaji Yahaya Bello as replacement for Audu, Honourable James Faleke, who was Audu’s running mate, withdrew and dissociated himself from participating in supplementary election as Bello’s running mate.

 

 

 

“Bello was declared governor-elect after the supplementary election. Now, the Labour Party that participated in all the stages of the elections on November 21 and December 5 submit that Bello was not qualified to participate in that election.

 

 

 

“Time is of essence, moreso that the swearing-in has been scheduled for January 27, the motion exparte is for leave of the tribunal to hear the Motion on Notice outside pre-hearing session and stop the inauguration as we proceed to hear the substantive case,” he said.

Credit: Tribune


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