A group, Sensitisation Initiative for Grassroots, has asked an Abuja Federal High Court to restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission from conducting a supplementary election in Anambra State.

The group is asking the court to determine whether, in line with the provisions of sections 25, 26 and 153 of the Electoral Act, 2010, as amended, INEC has the power to declare the governorship election in Anambra State inconclusive.

They also want the court to determine whether the electoral umpire, by the provisions of 178 and 179 of the 1999 Constitution, has the power to call for a supplementary election upon the supposed inconclusiveness of the governorship election.

The group urged the court to hold that the term “supplementary election” is alien to Electoral Act 2010 as amended and has never been contemplated under the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution.

Besides an order restraining INEC from going ahead to hold the proposed supplementary poll, they asked the court to declare that any supplementary election conducted by the commission, for the Office of the Governor of Anambra State, is unconstitutional, null and void.

In the supporting affidavit attached to their originating summons, the group averred that after the election on November 16, INEC, through its Resident Electoral Commissioner for Anambra state, Mr. Chukwuemeka Onukogu, declared that a bye-election shall take place in 65 polling units in Idemili North Local Government Area.

The group said “on November 17, after the conclusion of the said bye-election, preliminary results announced by the Commission’s Returning Officer, Prof James Ekpo, stated that the candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, Willie Obiano, scored 174, 710 to beat his closest rival, Tony Nwoye of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who scored 94, 956 votes, while Senator Nwabueze Ngige of the All Progressives Congress finished third after garnering 92, 300.”