Court Delivers Judgment On INEC’s Rejection Of Kogi Guber Poll Candidates

The decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reject the candidates of Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) and Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) for the forthcoming governorship election in Kogi State, has been upheld by a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.

Naija News reports that the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court upheld the decision by INEC on Friday, October 25.

In two judgments on Friday, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, the presiding judge, dismissed the suits filed by the ACPN and FJP on the grounds that they were statute-barred.

The presiding judge held that the electoral umpire acted within its powers to reject the candidates when it found that both parties failed to comply with its deadline for the submission of candidates’ lists and nomination forms.

Meanwhile, Naija News reports that the Kogi governorship election will take place on Saturday, November 16.

The incumbent governor of the state, Yahaya Bello of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and Engr. Musa Wada of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), are the main contenders for the number one political position in Kogi State, north-central Nigeria.