Kastina legislators: INEC, NASS yet to enforce court’s order

About two weeks after a Federal High Court in Abuja reinstated sacked 10 Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) lawmakers from Kastina at the National Assembly, the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) is yet to comply with the court’s directive. The court presided over by the Hon. Justice G.K Olutu had on January 11, ordered that the legislators be reinstated to their seats.

According to the court, “the sealed certificates of return issued to the plaintiffs upon their winning election into the National Assembly to represent their various federal constituencies and senatorial districts of Kastina state are still valid and that the plaintiffs are entitled to immediately reposes their seats at the National Assembly to represent their respective federal constituencies and senatorial districts without let or hindrance from the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC and the leadership of the National Assembly.”

The affected lawmakers are, Senator Abdu Umar Yandoma and Senator Ahmed Sani Stores along with members of the House of Representatives, Musa Salisu, Aminu Ashiru, Murtala Isah, Muntari Dandutse, Umar K, Umar Abdu Dankama, Tasiu Doguru and Mohammed Tukur.
Counsel to the plaintiffs, Yahaya Mohammed (SAN), had written to the INEC and the leadership of the NASS urging them to enforce the court’s directives.
The legislators had approached the court, challenging the decision of INEC to withdraw their certificates of return which led to the loss of their seats at the National Assembly.
Speaking with reporters in Abuja yesterday, Senator Yandoma said they were worried over the flouting of the court’s ruling.
As he put it, “as lawmakers, we should live by example as we should not be seen as a lawless arm of government.
“To the best of our knowledge, no appeal has been made on the matter and it is a declaratory judgment which should be enforced immediately.”