The Lower Nicola Indian Band byelection scheduled for Saturday to fill the positions of chief and councillor did not take place after all.

In a Federal Court order issued Thursday afternoon, Judge Francois Lemieux stayed the byelection and restored Chief Victor York and Coun. Harold Joe to their elected positions until the court decides if their removal from office is valid.

According to the court order, a judicial review of the matter will likely be scheduled for May and, in the interim period, day-to-day administrative matters will be determined by chief and council as elected in October 2010.

LNIB Executive Director Arnie Narcisse confirmed that the byelection would not take place, in a letter to the band membership, and said that further clarification would be provided at a general band meeting scheduled for Monday evening.

The decision to stay the election came only days before band members were set to elect a new chief and councillor after the other six members of council impeached York and Joe on Nov. 1.

York and Joe challenged their removal and filed for judicial review late last fall.

In his decision to stay the election, Lemieux explained that it would be “immeasurably wrong” to hold an election and subsequently declare it invalid, rather than to postpone it.

More to come.