Rivers APC expresses worry over conflicting judgments in political cases in the state

Desmond Iwuchukwu

The All Progressives Congress in Rivers State has urged the Chief Justice of Nigeria to wade into the issue of conflicting judgments on similar cases by judges in Rivers State.

APC in Rivers state alleged that the Port Harcourt Division of the Federal High Court is busy delivering conflicting judgments that have painted the judiciary in Nigeria in a very bad light and questioned the integrity of the judges.

A statement by the Spokesperson of the APC in Rivers State, Darlington Nwauju, expressed fears that the high court’s in the Port Harcourt Division seem to have ignored judicial precedents in delivering some of the rulings.

Darlington Nwauju recalled public pronouncements made by the PDP that no other party shall be contesting against its candidates in Rivers State and they have subsequently seen the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt delivering all sorts of judgments in favour of the PDP.

Darlington Nwauju also said the judgment delivered against the APC on the 25th of October 2022 wherein Justice Emmanuel Obile assumed jurisdiction over the case brought against the APC by the PDP and disqualified all candidates of their party even when its candidates were not parties to that suit.

The statement, however, called for investigations by the National Judicial Council, NJC, to restore the image and confidence of the public in the judiciary.

The Spokesperson of the APC in Rivers State also appealed to the CJN to resist all attempts to influence him over the Constitution of the investigative panel.

Meanwhile, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola has assured that the judiciary under his watch in Nigeria will continue to stand by the rule of law.

Justice Olukayode Ariwoola said this while commissioning the federal judicial service commission liaison office and Justice MARY ODILI judicial institute in Port Harcourt.

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola says the judiciary deserves more than they get across the country.

He said Rivers State’s formula of prioritizing the welfare of judicial officers is worthy of emulation for other state governors in Nigeria.

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola said governor Nyesom Wike through the judicial projects has distinguished himself as a life bencher.