Kogi Guber: Bamaiyi Expresses Worry Over Slow Handling of His Case Against INEC

The governoship candidate of All Blending Party ABP for the just concluded Kogi state governoship election, Prince Umar zekeri Bamaiyi has expressed worry for slow handling of his case (FHC/LKJ/CS/133/2019) at Federal High Court, Lokoja, Kogi state.

Recall that Bamaiyi sue INEC and asked court to nullify the election and demanded for a compensation of N1.5B for illegal removal of his name from INEC final list that was released in October 2019.

Bamaiyi whose date of birth is 1982-01-01 (aged 37years) wondered where INEC got 33 years that was used to disqualified him from the governoship race.
On October 11th, 2019, Bamaiyi and Motunrayo Campaign Organisation BAMCO has protested to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against the exclusion of its governorship candidate fielded for the November 16 election in Kogi State.

Director General of the campaign organisation of the party, Ugbede Iduh, who led other party members on a peaceful protest to INEC’s headquarters in Lokoja said they were surprised that the commission excluded the name of their candidate from the final list released.

Addressing the protesters, INEC’s National Commissioner in charge of Kogi, Nasarawa and Kwara, Mohammed Haruna, said the party’s candidate was not listed by the commission because he was underage.
He explained that the party’s nomination was invalid on the ground that the governorship candidate submitted to INEC was 33-years-old as against 35 years stipulated by the constitution.

Addressing news men in Lagos, Bamaiyi who is in possession of the video tape where INEC national commissioner said he (Bamaiyi) was disqualified because he’s 33 years noted that INEC has no genuine defence and therefore argued that such clear and simple case shouldn’t last for more than a month but surprisingly, the court has adjourned the case till January next year 2020.

Bamaiyi said he was born on 1st January, 1982, he registered and collected his voter’s card in 2015 and all these information were written clearly on my voter’s card which was submitted to INEC.

As at 2015 when the voter’s card was issued to me, I was actually 33 years of age but should the date the voter’s card was issued used to determine my age, or my age should be determined from my date of birth? Bamaiyi asked’.

“From my date of birth ‘1982’, I’m 37 years old and not 33 years, Bamaiyi added.
My lawyer has requested for the video clip to be played in an open court but the request is yet to be granted,” Bamaiyi added.

Reacting to the adjournment of the case, Bamaiyi said he was shocked and saddened when his lawyer called him and said the court has adjourned the case till January 2020, saying such action is uncalled for, adding that some forces are behind the adjournment of the case.

Bamaiyi further stated that there was no way he would fold his arms and allow any body to frustrate and take away his right, adding that he has already making arrangements of bringing more qualified and experienced lawyers to ensure the speedy judgement of the case.

“I have faith in our judiciaries because we’re guided by constitution and no one is above the law of the land”. I’m confident of winning the case and any judgement short of nullification of the election and a compensation of N1.5B would not be accepted.

Muhammed Haruna cannot deny he did not say the commission disqualified me from the governoship race because I’m 33 years old. Which evidence would INEC provide to safe Muhammed from what he said on camera?

Time shall tell as we wait anxiously to play the video in court. God bless Federal High Court, Kogi state and the federal republic of Nigeria.