Court bars INEC from using MC Oluomo to distribute electoral items in Lagos state
A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has granted an order restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, from engaging, using, or further dealing with the chairman of the Lagos Parks and Garages, Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, in the distribution of election materials and ad-hoc staff for the forthcoming polls in the state.
Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke granted the injunction on Monday, after an application filed by the Labour Party, LP, and its gubernatorial candidate in Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour.
Although TMY Newspapers learnt that INEC was absent at the proceedings, a lawyer for the Labour Party told the court that the electoral umpire was served with the court papers.
In urging the court to grant the interim order, the applicant’s lawyer moved the application with an affidavit of urgency and told the court the grounds for orders sought included the fact that his clients will be severely threatened by a lack of free and fair elections in Lagos State, adding that “it is in the interest of justice to restrain INEC from taking any step or further steps that may foist a fait accompli on the substantive suit.”
After listening to the counsel, Justice Aneke granted the application for abridgement of time and adjourned the hearing of the substantive suit to February 22, while ordering that all the processes in the suit be served on INEC.
TMY Newspapers recalls that the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Lagos, Olusegun Agbaje, had said the commission would work with the Lagos State Parks Management Committee chaired by MC Oluomo for the distribution of election materials and personnel across the state.
