A Kwara State High Court, yesterday, dismissed the plea by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to stop the conduct of the November 18, local government elections in the state.
The PDP, through its lead counsel, Salman Jawondo, had approached the court to restrain the Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission (KWASIEC) from conducting the said election in the 16 local government areas in the state. The state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Kamaldeen Ajibad (SAN), was joined in the suit.
PDP had hinged its claims on the alleged unconstitutionality inherent in KWAISEC’s guidelines for candidates participating in the council polls.
The PDP, therefore, issued an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the electoral empire from enforcing, giving effect to and or applying some sections of the Kwara State Electoral Laws, 2006, and the guidelines for the conduct of the coming local council elections pending the determination of the substantive suit.
The opposition PDP argued that the 2006 local government electoral law passed by the Kwara State House of Assembly was inconsistent with the National Assembly Act and the 1999 Constitution.
The party also averred that the screening and disqualification of candidates by KWAISEC was not within the purview of the Electoral Act.
In his judgment, Justice Sulaiman Akanbi said that there was nothing unconstitutional by the legislation passed by the Kwara assembly.
He, therefore, ordered the state electoral umpire to go ahead with the November 18, local government elections.
