A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State has dismissed a suit brought against the All Progressives Congress by the Peoples Democratic Party. The PDP had sought a blanket ban on the APC legislative candidates thereby preventing them from participating in next year’s general election on the ground that their primaries were not monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission and that they failed to comply with the Electoral Act.
The court presided over by Justice Turaki Mohammed, however, refused to ban the candidates citing a lack of jurisdiction based on an earlier judgment by the Court of Appeal which barred political parties from interfering in the internal affairs of other parties.
APC counsel, Emenike Ebete, while speaking to journalists after the court decision, applauded the ruling, calling it a victory for justice. He declared that the APC candidates are now free to campaign across Rivers state without fear.
On his part, the APC candidate for Rivers West Senatorial District, Asita Asita commended the judge for the decision while charging his party to defeat the PDP in the upcoming elections.
However, counsel to the PDP, Dike Udenna declined to comment on the decision. About two weeks ago, the gubernatorial candidate of the APC in the state was disqualified from contesting the election on the basis of dual citizenship, a decision that has been appealed.
