A Federal High Court in Abuja has vacated an ex-parte order which restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) from releasing the National Voter Register to the Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission (KWSIEC) for the purpose of conducting local government election in the state.
The order issued on July 29 was lifted by Justice Peter Lifu on the ground that it has expired by the provisions of the law having lasted for more than 14 days.
In a ruling on Monday on the request by Kwara SIEC for lifting of the order, Justice Lifu agreed with J. J Usman, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) that the order ought to be set aside in line with the provisions of the law.
Besides, Justice Lifu dismissed the request by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to commit the Chairman of the Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission (KWSIEC) Okanlawon Baba to prison on allegations of violation of valid court order.
The judge dismissed the request on the ground that the contempt of court charge initiated against the electoral body chairman was not served on the contemnor as required by law.
