STRONG indications emerged in Abuja on Tuesday that the Cross River State governorship election will still be held as planned on Saturday, with Justice A. Abdul Kafarati of the Federal High Court, Abuja expected to reverse his last Monday’s order stopping the poll when the matter comes up tomorrow (Thursday).
A highly-placed source within the top echelon of the judiciary revealed to the Nigerian Tribune on Tuesday that the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Dahiru Musdapher had reportedly directed the judge to reverse himself on the ex parte order he granted the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP), stopping the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from going ahead with the poll.
Musdapher reportedly summoned the judge and made it known to him in strong terms that he lacked the jurisdiction to grant the ex parte order halting the election.
It could not, however, be confirmed if the judge would comply with the administrative directive.
A senior lawyer who spoke on the condition of anonymity said the Chief Justice should thread softly with his administrative interventions, in order for such not to be misconstrued as interference.
A Supreme Court source, however, said the directive could not be misconstrued as interference, adding that it was still in line with the ongoing reform agenda Justice Kafarati had, on Monday, restrained INEC from going ahead with Saturday’s governorship election in the state, consequent upon an application brought by Nmerengwa Alozie, counsel for the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) and its governorship candidate, Dr Obol Patrick Okomiso.
He also asked INEC to appear before him tomorrow, to show cause why the elections should hold, as he abridged the time for the commission to appear before him to defend the suit.
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