An interim interlocutory injunction has been granted by the Federal High Court in Lagos, which restrains the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from using Musiliu Akinsanya, also known as MC Oluomo, or any of his representatives in the distribution of election materials and adhoc staff for the forthcoming polls in Lagos State.
The order was granted after an application was filed by the Labour Party and two other political parties, along with their governorship candidates. INEC was absent from the proceedings, although the commission had been served with court papers.
The applicants’ counsel moved the application with an affidavit of urgency, citing section 13(3) of the Federal High Court Act, Laws Of The Federation Of Nigeria 2004; Order 26 Rules 8 and 9, Order 28 Rule 1(2) of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2009, and under the court’s inherent jurisdiction.
Justice Aneke granted the order of interlocutory injunction and also granted the application for an abridgement of time to hear the substantive suit, which has been adjourned to February 22. Olusegun Agbaje, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Lagos, had previously stated that the Lagos State Parks Management Committee, headed by MC Oluomo, would work with INEC for the distribution of election materials and personnel across the state.
However, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, warned INEC against using the parks committee for the sanctity of the poll, after which Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu set up the parks committee following the suspension of the operations of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Lagos.