The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has reacted to the nullification of primaries for all candidates of the party for the 2023 general elections by a judgment of a Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt.
Recall that some aggrieved APC members loyal to the Governorship Candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Senator Magnus Abe, had approached the Court challenging the conduct of the Primary election with claims of exclusion from the delegates’ primaries conducted in the State.
In a statement by Sogbeye Eli, the Spokesperson of Tonye Cole/Innocent Barikor 2023 Gubernatorial Campaign Council on Tuesday night, the party called for calm among members, noting that the APC has begun the process to appeal the judgment.
The statement reads in part, “We wish to state that the trial Court came to its conclusions regardless of the Court’s attention is drawn to a recent judgment of the Supreme Court in the case of Hon. Monday Iyare Osagie & Ors. Vs. Victor Engham Charles Egbon where the Supreme Court held that it is only an Aspirant who contested a primary resulting from the Congresses that can challenge any irregularities arising from the said Congresses.
“To our chagrin, the learned trial Court ignored the said judgment of the apex Court and granted all the reliefs sought by the Plaintiffs.
“We are fully aware of, and appreciate the intensity of apprehension this judgment has caused our party members given the experience of 2019 and appeal that we all remain calm and keep faith with the Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022, the judicial processes and the party.
“Party members are further assured that our party immediately began the process of appeal and are confident that the appellate courts would do justice to our case in accordance with the law and judicial precedents by overturning today’s judgment and consequently restore our candidates on the ballot.”
