Rivers 2023: PDP sues INEC, asks court to nullify APC primaries

The Rivers State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dragged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to Court seeking the disqualification of all national and state assembly candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from 2023 elections in the state.

The PDP in its suit is alleging that APC did not comply with the new Electoral Act 2022 during the conduct of its primaries that led to the election of the candidates.

The party also alleged that the APC did not allow INEC to monitor its party primaries as required by the Electoral Act (amended).

At the commencement of proceedings, the counsels to the PDP and INEC prayed for more time to respond to some processes.

The presiding judge, Justice Stephen Daylop-Pam, after consideration, adjourned the case to August 29, 2022, for the resolution of the petition.

However, one of the APC candidates and a Lawyer, Ezekiel-Amadi Ezemonye, who appeared for himself and the 12 defendants announced that he had filed a petition at the Federal High Court Administrative Judge against Justice Daylop-Pam.

Ezemonye, who is the APC candidate for Ikwerre-Emohua Federal Constituency claimed that members of his party may not get justice from the judge.

Recall that the PDP had also dragged INEC to seek the disqualification of the Governorship candidate of Accord Party, Dumo Lulu Briggs over the non-compliance to the Electoral Act (amended).