A Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki, capital of Ebonyi State, has restrained the State government led by Chief David Umahi from appointing new caretaker committees to run the affairs of the 13 Local Government Areas of the State.

DAILY POST reports that one Mr. Otu Collins Eleri, Nelson Eze and three (3) others dragged the Independent National electoral commission, INEC, the Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commission, EBSIEC, and the Ebonyi State government to the Court, challenging the outcome of the local government areas election conducted on 30th July, 2022.

The trial judge, Justice Fatun Riman, had in the suit. No. FHC/AI/CS/151/2022, ruled that the INEC is not a rubber stamp agency and is not under any duty whatsoever to release the Register of Voters to Ebonyi State Independent National Electoral Commission for purposes of using same in the conduct of Local Government Elections in the 13 Local Government Areas of Ebonyi State.

Justice Riman, also in his ruling, stated that the tenure of office of Local Government Area Chairmen in Ebonyi State remains three (3) years and that the tenure of the current chairmen will expire in August, 2023.

The Court judgement signed and issued to newsmen by the court registrar, Chigbu Stephen reads in a part: “That the tenure of office of Local Government Chairmen and Councilors in Ebonyi State is three years and that the tenure of the present crop of Chairmen and Councilors in Ebonyi State will expire in August, 2023.

“That the 3rd defendant (Ebonyi State government) lacks the vires, authority, enablement etc to appoint Caretakers. Caretaker Committees and/or anybody or persons by whatsoever name or nomenclature called that are unelected democratically to run, manage, superintend, etc, the affairs of the 13 Local Government Areas of Ebonyi State.

“That the Independent National Electoral Commission is not a rubber stamp agency and is not under any duty whatsoever to release the Register of Voters to Ebonyi State Independent National Electoral Commission for purposes of using same in the conduct of Local Government Elections in the 13 Local Government Areas of Ebonyi State, without availing the plaintiffs and members of the public with the extant Law or Laws, if any meant to regulate the said exercise.

That the Independent National Electoral Commission for itself, its agents, servants,workmen etc are restrained from releasing the Register of Voters in Ebonyi State to the Ebonyi State Government and Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commission for purposes of using same for the proposed Local Government Elections in the 13 Local Government Areas of Ebonyi State, pending the release and publication of the extant Law, etc meant to regulate the conduct of the said exercise to the plaintiffs and members of the public.”

-1). "Everyone appears to be courageous until bad weather arrives and then we know the true leaders"-Israelmore Ayivor

-2). “Most men can survive adversity but if you want to test the character of a man, give him power.” - Abraham Lincoln.

-3. “if you can’t swallow your pride, you can’t lead.” - Jack Weatherford

That the Independent National Electoral Commission for itself, its agents, servants,workmen etc are restrained from releasing the Register of Voters in Ebonyi State to the Ebonyi State Government and Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commission for purposes of using same for the proposed Local Government Elections in the 13 Local Government Areas of Ebonyi State, pending the release and publication of the extant Law, etc meant to regulate the conduct of the said exercise to the plaintiffs and members of the public.”

TGM2015:
Why restraining INEC to release Voters register.

flejnr2:

Not restraining them but that they have to accompany the application with the laws of the state commission stipulating that election time is ripe. I think the main contention here is that umahi is trying to install new chairmen while the ones in office still have a year in office

TGM2015:


Why restraining INEC and instructing them not to release Voters register to Ebonyi electoral body?

Edited
The restrictions was "pending the release and publication of the extant Law, etc meant to regulate the conduct of the said exercise to the plaintiffs and members of the public."
That to me is reasonable enough.

maestroferddi:


The Appeal Court has put him where he belongs...Let him run to Abuja again to coax Buhari to intervene...

lailo:
See Igbos linking his ordeal with APC. Same APC/Buhari that has the following projects to their credit in the igbo land: 2nd Niger bridge, Onisha-Akwa-Enugu express road, Nnamdi Azikwe maseuleum, Enugu-PH road, Ariaria Market Electrification Project, Ikot Ekpene — Alaoji — Ugwuaji Switching Station and Transmission Line, Pensions paid to Retired War-Affected (Ex-Biafran) Police and many more.......
Yet they want to die for PDP who did nothing for them 23 years they have been loyal to PDP. Not even are they worthy presidential ticket before PDP. I never see dis kain people before for my life

zorn:
abeg get out. who is paying for the 2nd niger bridge?