The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Dahiru Musdapher? on Tuesday directed Justice Abdul Kafarati of the Federal High Court in Abuja to reverse the order he issued on Monday asking the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to conduct the governorship poll already fixed for this week Saturday in Cross-River state.
Following the administrative order, Justice Kafarati has refused to release the order to the plaintiffs, (All Nigeria Peoples Party and its Governorship candidate Dr. Obol Patrick Okomiso) in favour of whom he granted the order.
Justice Kafarati had on Monday restrained INEC from going ahead with Saturday’s governorship election in the State.
A source close to the CJN’s office told journalists in Abuja that the CJN was shocked when he learnt about the order by Justice Kafarati and had ordered him to vacate the order and put the parties in the matter on notice.
The CJN has always cautioned judges against the indiscriminate grant of ex-parte orders.
So he has been directed to reverse himself,” the source said.
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday, insisted that there was no court order stopping? it from conducting the Cross River State governorship poll scheduled for Saturday.
INEC’s refutal was squel to a report that a Federal High Court in Abuja had reportedly stopped the conduct of the Cross River poll.
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