By The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has granted an order restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, from engaging, using, or further dealing with the Chairman of the Lagos Parks and Garages, Musiliu Akinsanya, better known as MC Oluomo, in the distribution of election materials and ad-hoc staff for the forthcoming polls in the state.
The injunction was granted by Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke following an application filed by the Labour Party, LP, and its gubernatorial candidate in Lagos state, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour.
The LP had sought a court order to bar MC Oluomo, a prominent figure in the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), from participating in the distribution of electoral materials, citing concerns over his alleged association with political violence and thuggery.
The court granted “an order of interlocutory injunction filed by the Labour Party and five others restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission of Nigeria (defendant/respondent), whether by itself or by its officers, affiliates, servants, privies or agents or any person acting or purporting to act for and on behalf howsoever from taking any steps or further steps whatsoever in furtherance of the engagement or appointment or consummating the appointment of Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo-led Lagos State Parks Management Committee or any of its commercial bus drivers to distribute 2023 election materials and personnel in Lagos State pending the hearing and determination the substantive suit.”
Reacting to the news, the Labour Party Lagos gubernatorial candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, tweeted on Monday:
“I am happy to announce that this morning, we successfully acquired an injunction barring INEC LAGOS STATE from dealing in anyway shape or form with MC Oluomo or any of his associated agencies. I am grateful to GOD almighty and my legal team, and to the people of Lagos.”
INEC had previously employed the NURTW and a few other unions to help with election logistics in Lagos.The gubernatorial election will be held on March 11, two weeks after next Saturday’s presidential election.
