A FEDERAL High Court in Lagos has barred the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from using the Chairman of the Lagos Parks and Garages Management Committee, Musliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, to distribute election materials in the state.
The court presided by Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, gave the ruling following an application filed by the Labour Party (LP) and its gubernatorial candidate Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour.
The plaintiffs had sought an order to bar Akinsanya from distributing election materials in Lagos.
READ ALSO:
2023: INEC frowns at use of abusive language for campaigns
No election in 240 polling units – INEC
Elections: INEC decongests overcrowded polling units
INEC mock accreditation: CSO reports missing names in voters register
The suit followed reports that Oluomo allegedly wrote a letter to the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Lagos State, asking INEC to contract the distribution of election materials to him.
To prevent MC Oluomo from participating in the distribution of election materials, the LP approached the court to request a court injunction, pointing to his alleged involvement in political violence and thuggery.
Justice Aneke granted an order of interlocutory injunction barring INEC from engaging Oluomo for distribution of election materials, pending the determination of the suit filed by the LP.
In September 2022, The ICIR reported that a viral video on Twitter showed how thugs were forcing motorists, especially Keke riders, to accept and pay N1000 for stickers with pictures of All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Lagos State governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Oluomo later distanced himself from the forced sale of the stickers to commercial tricycles (Keke)
Denying involvement in the sale of the tickets to the motorists, Oluomo noted that it was a ploy to soil his image and of and that of the APC.
Oluomo is believed to be an associate of APC presidential candidate Bola Tinubu.
A reporter with the ICIR
A Journalist with a niche for quality and a promoter of good governance