Edo: Don’t Restrain APC Agents, Court Tells INEC

A Federal High Court in Abuja has stopped the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from excluding the All Progressives Congress (APC) polling and collating agents from participating in the governorship election in Edo State on Saturday.

The court, presided over by Justice Emeka Nwite, also ordered INEC to temporarily accept and give effect to the list of the polling and collation agents for the poll.

The case, with Suit Number FHC/AB/CS/1326/2024, has the APC challenging the non-recognition exclusion of its agents from participating in the poll.

After hearing the application of APC counsel Abdulghani Arobo, leading Ayodele Toe and Ayodeji Ibekunle, the judge ordered the electoral commission not to exclude the party’s polling and collation agents pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

The case was adjourned to September 18, 2024.

According to the court order cited by LEADERSHIP, Justice Nwite said: “An order of interim injunction of this Honourable court is hereby made restraining the defendant from depriving the polling and collation agents of the plaintiff official tags and full participation in the forthcoming Edo governorship election and instead directing the defendant/respondent to publish temporarily, or issue customised rags with the names, details and documents of the plaintiffs polling agents or submitted for the forthcoming Edo State governorship election, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice,” the court order said