Ahead of the 2023 general elections, the Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Thursday, dragged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to court in two separate suits
In APC suits marked FHC/PH/CS/162/2022 and FHC/PH/CS/163/2022 respectively, the party prayed a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt to disqualify the Governorship candidate of the PDP, Siminialayi Fubara and all PDP State Assembly candidates from contesting the election over allegations that PD erred on some provisions of the new electoral act.
According to APC, the PDP delayed in forwarding the register containing the names of their candidates to the INEC within thirty days as required by law.
The party also alleged that the PDP did not properly sign the letter containing the names of the candidates before forwarding it to the commission.
When the matter was mentioned in court, the Presiding Judge, Justice Ayuah Phoebe adjourned the matter to August 31 for hearing after granting the motion exparte moved by counsel to the APC, C.C. Dike for substituted service.
Recall that the PDP had filed a suit before a Federal High Court against the APC, seeking the non-recognition of its candidates for the National Assembly election by INEC on the grounds that the commission did not monitor the primaries, among other allegations.
