Ahead of the August 18 PHALGA Constituency 3 by-election, a candidate of the All Progressive Congress, APC, during the 2015 general election for the Rivers State House of Assembly, Mr Chima Nnokam has dragged INEC before the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt over the vacant PHALGA Constituency III Seat.
The applicant with suit No: FHC/PH/CS/85/2018, is praying the court for an order to be immediately issued with the certificate of return to represent PHALGA Constituency III in the state Assembly, with INEC having failed to conduct a by-election more than 30 days after Victor Ihunwo vacated from the seat.
Justice Mohammed Turaki who presided over the matter in Port Harcourt has granted the exparte application and ordered that the matter be heard by the vacation court because of its urgent nature.
The Judge ordered for the defendant to be put on notice and has adjourned the matter to the 10th of August 2018 for a proper hearing of the motion for an interlocutory injunction restraining INEC from conducting the Election Slated for Aug 18th, pending the substantive suit.
Chima Nnokam, the APC candidate for the PHALGA Constituency III Seat during the April 11th, 2015 state Assembly elections garnered the second highest number of votes.
