Justice Turaki Mohammed of the Federal Court, Port Harcourt on Friday, disqualified candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 16 State Constituencies from contesting in the 2023 elections.
The affected constituencies include Etche 1 & 2, Tai, Andoni, Gokana, Oyigbo, Eleme, Port Harcourt 1, 2 & 3, Khana Constituency 1 & 2, Okrika, Ahoada West, and Obio/Akpor Constituency 1 & 2.
The judgment follows a suit filed before the court by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for non-monitoring of the APC legislative primary by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In the suit marked PDP v. INEC & 33 Ors (FHC/PH/CS/152/2022, PDP said INEC did not monitor the APC legislative primary in the affected areas.
Reacting to the development, the spokesperson for the APC 2023 Elections Campaign Council in Rivers State, Sogbeye Eli, said the party received the news with surprise.
According to the statement, “With this verdict, only the candidates for Ahoada East 1 & 2, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni 1 & 2, Emohua, Degema, Akuku Toru 1 & 2, Asari Toru 1 & 2, Bonny, Ikwerre, Omuma, Opobo/Nkoro, Abua/Odual, and Ogu/Bolo were spared in the judgment.
“In this circumstance, the Campaign Council is compelled yet again to urge party faithful and millions of Rivers people supporting our candidates in the affected State Constituencies not to despair or be agitated as we proceed on appeal to reverse the judgment and restore our candidates ahead of the elections.
“We recall that the same INEC had led evidence to prove that the Commission monitored the APC primary before another Judge of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt Division in another matter challenging the eligibility of our candidates for the National Assembly (Senate and the House of Representatives).
“The enemies of democracy in our State who are afraid to meet us at the polls are out to break our spirit and force a fait accompli on the Rivers electorate who are backing our candidates but they have failed. We will contest the coming elections at all levels and win after setting aside this judgment as the Constitution allows the All Progressives Congress.”
