Brave Dickson
An attempt by the Social Democracy Party, to stop the Independent National Electoral Commission from going ahead with the yet-to-be concluded March 9 gubernatorial election in Rivers State has failed as court struck out its motion.
The state governorship candidate of SDP, Mr Previous Elekima and the party’s Chairman, Joshua Worlu both first and second plaintiffs in the suit had filed an exparte motion before a federal high court in Port Harcourt on the grounds of bias against them by INEC.
The plaintiffs through their lawyer, Barr Francis Eyong told the court that the fact-finding committee of INEC only met with AAC and PDP governorship candidates when it visited the state on March 11, 2019.
“The committee collected representations and information from only the state AAC and PDP governorship candidates. I believe INEC has treated my clients unfairly and if it goes ahead to declare the governorship election result, it will bring irreparable harm to my clients.
“We therefore pray the court to stop any process that will lead to the declaration of the result pending the determination of the suit, “Barr Eyong said.
Upon striking out the motion, Justice Hilary Oshomah based his reason on the fact that the word irreparable harm as adduced by the plaintiffs was not convincing enough to restrain INEC and therefore adjourned the suit till March 26,2019.
Meanwhile, INEC, has finally released the timeline for the completion of the electoral process in the State.
INEC Commissioner in charge of Information and Voter Education, Festus Okoye, at a briefing in Abuja, said collation and announcement of results in the Rivers governorship election will take place between April 2 and 5, 2019, at a venue to be decided by stakeholders.
Okoye said supplementary elections will take place on April 13 in local government areas where elections could not hold, adding that Certificates of Return will be issued to candidates on April 19.
