The Federal High Court Abuja has declined to issue an interlocutory injunction to restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, from recognising a Senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Niger State, David Umar.

However, the court, in a ruling that was delivered by Justice Folashade Ogunbanjo on Tuesday, okayed accelerated hearing of the substantive suit challenging the powers of the APC to allegedly handpick Umar to replace one Mohammed Musa as its candidate in Niger East Senatorial District.

Justice Ogunbanjo directed all the parties to file and exchange relevant processes before January 9 to enable the court to determine the matter expeditiously.

Cited as 1st to 3rd Defendants in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1210/2018, were APC, INEC and Umar.

The Plaintiff, Musa, told the court that he was the declared winner of a primary election the APC conducted in the Senatorial District on October 2, an exercise he said was duly monitored by INEC.

He argued that under section 87(4) (c) (II) of the Electoral Act, the 1st Defendant (APC), is mandated to forward his name as its candidate for the 2019 Senatorial election in Niger East.

Vanguard reports… Details here