Justice Bello Kawu of an FCT High Court in Kubwa, on Thursday, ordered the Independent National Election Commission (INEC) to declare collated results of Ajeromi- Ifelodun Federal Constituency, Lagos State which held on Feb. 23 to Rep. Rita Orji.
Kawu also ordered INEC and its agents, namely, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Lagos State, Mr Adeshola Adelaja and Mr Ulocha Oscar to pay N250, 000 to Orji.NAN reports
In his ruling, he dismissed a notice of preliminary objection on the jurisdiction of the court, saying that the court had jurisdiction to entertain the suit.
He further said the court cannot stop INEC from performing its constitutional duty but results must be declared before declaring same as inconclusive for a re-run.
It would be recalled that an Exparte application was filed on March 7, by Orji and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) through her counsel, Jude Ugwuanyi.
The application had INEC, the resident Electoral Commissioner Lagos State, the All Progressive Congress (APC), Hon. Kolawole Taiwo, Mr Adeshola Adelaja and Mr Ulocha Oscar as respondents.
The respondents however contested the jurisdiction of the court saying elections were conducted in Lagos state adding that it is a post-election matter.
Ugwuanyi, however, held that the FCT had jurisdiction because INEC operates in Abuja and is saddled with elections responsibility.
He added that the House of Representatives results for the said constituency was declared inconclusive in INEC, Abuja.
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