Another Setback For APC In Rivers As Court Sacks 16 Party’s Assembly Candidates

Two weeks after a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt invalidated the All Progressives Congress’ (APC) nomination of candidates for the general election of 2023, a second Federal High Court, sitting in Port Harcourt on Friday, disqualified 16 of the party’s state-level candidates for state house of representatives and upheld 16 others.

Justice E.A. Obile had nullified the Primaries of  the APC, in the state following a suit filed by one George Orlu and four others over alleged exclusion  in the party’s primaries

However, Justice Turaki Muhammed of the Federal High Court, in his ruling Friday, sacked the 16 candidates of the party for the state assembly seats out of 32.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had filed the case against the APC registered in suit (FHC/PH/CS/152/2022).

The PDP claimed in the suit that the primaries of the affected candidates were not monitored by the officers of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The affected state constituencies and their candidates disqualified are Andoni, Etche 1 and 2, Tai, Gokana, Eleme, Port Harcourt City 1, 2 and 3, Khana 1 and 2 Okrika, Ahoada West and Obio-Akpor 1 and 2 state constituencies.

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The candidates cleared by the court to participate in the 2023 general elections are Emohua, Ahoada East 1 and 2, Ikwerre, Omuma, Ogu Bolo, Bonny, Asari Toru, Akuku Toru 1 and 2, Ogba Egbema Ndoni 1 and 2, Opobo-Nkoru, Abua-Odua, Oyigbo and Degema constituencies.

The presiding judge, Justice Mohammed in his judgment first dismissed the preliminary objection by APC, on the issue of jurisdiction and locus Standi as well as issues of status barred.

Justice Mohammed, who assumed jurisdiction, held that the PDP was able to prove to the court that the primary elections that produced the APC 16 candidates were not monitored by INEC.

THISDAY reports that while reacting on the ruling, the party said it will not break following the recent two court judgements that have sacked its candidates for the 2023 general elections.

The Spokesman, APC 2023 Elections Campaign Council, Sogbeye Eli, stated that the party was stretched by the anti-democratic forces, adding that the party would not break.

He said: “The 2023 Elections Campaign Council of the All Progressives Congress (APC) received with surprise the news of another judgment of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt this afternoon ordering the disqualification of our candidates for the Rivers State House of Assembly in 16 State constituencies for the March 11, 2022 general election.

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“In the circumstances, 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 judgement and restore our candidates ahead of the elections.”