Kas Worgu
The Independent National Electoral Commission has complied with the order made by Justice Kolawole Omotosho of the Federal High Court not to recognise candidates of the All Progressives Congress, APC, for the 2019 gubernatorial, senatorial, house of representatives and state house of assembly elections.
The names of the candidates were revealed on Thursday in a list signed by INEC secretary, Rose Orianran-Anthony.
Recall that Justice JK Omotosho of the Federal High Court, on January 7, barred INEC from recognizing candidates of the APC for the election.
Justice Kolawole Omotosho in his judgment in the suit filed by Senator Magnus Abe and others versus Rivers APC and others declared that the APC for failing to respect the law must bear the consequences of her disobedience of the law, thereby nullifying the primary elections.
The court further declared that both the Direct and indirect primaries were held during the pendency of the suit at the Rivers State High Court.
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According to Justice Omotosho, the APC conducted the indirect primaries in gross disrespect of the pending suit before Justice Chinwendu Nwogu of the Rivers State High Court.
Justice Omotosho noted that the judgment of Justice Chinwendu Nwogu nullifying the primaries of the APC in Rivers State is yet to be set aside by an appellate court, hence it remains valid.
The court, therefore held that the names sent by the Amaechi faction and the National Working Committee of the APC to INEC for the 2019 General elections were illegal and should be disregarded.
The judge said that the Direct primaries conducted by the Senator Magnus Abe faction were illegal because the National Working Committee of APC did not monitor or participate in the processes.
Justice Omotosho added that Justice Chinwendu Nwogu was clear when he nullified all primaries and congresses held during the pendency of the suit, which included the Direct primaries conducted by the Abe faction.
He said that both Senator Magnus Abe and the Amaechi factions have no leg to stand in view of the judgment, hence both factions are disqualified from participating in the elections.
The court held that the APC in Rivers State has no power to nominate and sponsor any candidates for the 2019 General elections.
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In its publication of the National and State Houses of Assembly aspirants on Thursday, candidates of the All Progressives Congress were not included which points to the fact that the commission has effected the judgement of the Federal High Court.
Our correspondent gathered that affected aspirants loyal to the minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi did not find the whole situation funny as it is barely less than a month to the election with little or no campaign done to garner votes.
However, candidates of the National and State assembly loyal to the faction of Senator Magnus Abe are optimistic that the court of appeal will declare them winner owing to the fact that the National Working Committee of the party will ensure the party participates in the election having only the direct primary candidates as the best alternative.
Efforts to reach some affected aspirants proved abortive as they declined taking calls from our correspondent.
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