Court restrains Abia electoral body from conducting LG poll

An Abia State High Court sitting in Aba on Tuesday gave an interim order restraining the Abia State Independent Election Commission from conducting the local government election in the state slated for December 18.

The state chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) had dragged ABSIEC to court over alleged infringement on the rights of its candidates and prayed the court to stop the electoral body from taking further actions that could limit the chances of winning in the election.

In his ruling, Justice Agwu Umah Kalu ordered for the interim injunction restraining ABSIEC from taking any other step regarding the election pending the determination of the motion on notice.

The court also gave an order restraining the defendant from demanding from the candidates of the applicant any fee for the purpose of the election.

The defendant also restrained from refusing to issue the claimant with the relevant forms for the election and excluding the applicant’s candidates from participating in the election on the grounds of non-payment of fees imposed by the defendant or any other ground not supported by law.

Hearing on the substantive matter was slated for December 7, 2020.