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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has disqualified 16 All Progressives Congress House of Assembly candidates.
Justice Turaki Mohammed delivered the judgement in a suit files by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Friday.
The judges disqualified the candidates for the non-monitoring of the party’s legislative primary by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the 16 constituencies of Andoni, Etche Constituency 1 & 2, Tai, Gokana, Oyigbo, Eleme, Port Harcourt Constituency 1, 2 and 3, Khana Constituency 1 and 2, Okrika, Ahoada West and Obio/Akpor Constituency 1 and 2.
With this judgement, only the candidates of APC for Ahoada East 1 and 2, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni 1 and 2, Emohua, Degema, Akuku Toru 1 and 2, Asari Toru 1 and 2, Bonny, Ikwerre, Omuma, Opobo/Nkoro, Abua/Odual and Ogu/Bolo would contest in the 2023 elections.
Reacting to the judgement, the spokesman of APC Campaign Counci in Rivers State,Sogbeye Eli, said the news came as a suprise.
Eli urged APC members and the supporters of the candidates in the affected xonstituencies not to despair or be agitated, saying the party would appeal the judgement.
He stated 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 its 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 judgement as the constitution allows the All Progressives Congress,” Eli said.