A Federal High Court, Abuja on Thursday set aside the October 6, 2012 by-elections in Plateau North Senatorial District and Barkin-Ladi State Constituency, Plateau State.
The elections were held to fill the vacancies created by the death of Senator Gyang Dantong and Gyang Fulani, who were until their demise members of the National Assembly and the Plateau State House of Assembly respectively .
The two lawmakers died during an attack on a Plateau community by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
The Congress for Progressive Change had approached the court to challenge the outcome of the by-election, claiming that Independent National Electoral Commission rejected its candidates.
Delivering judgment in the matter, Justice Adeniyi Ademola ordered INEC to conduct another elections within 90 days.
The judge also granted consequential orders against the two lawmakers who emerged from the by-elections – Gyang Pwajok and Kaneng Gyang Fulani – stop parading themselves as representatives of the affected constituencies with immediate effect.
Ademola also ordered the affected legislators to vacate their office as Senator and member of the Plateau State House of Assembly.
Also, the court awarded N5m against INEC in favour of the CPC.
The CPC had approached the court after the names of its candidates in the by-elections were rejected by INEC before the poll.
The court held that INEC lacked the powers to reject names of candidates nominated by political parties, in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended).
