16 candidates contesting for the Rivers State House of Assembly on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), from contesting in the 2023 general elections were on Friday disqualified by the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
Recall that Rivers State has a total of 32 State Constituencies with the Rivers East senatorial district having the highest number.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had dragged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and 33 others to Court, seeking the disqualification of the APC candidates based on the allegation that the electoral body did not monitor their party congresses.
Delivering judgement on the suit number: FHC/PH/CS/152/2022, the presiding judge, Hon. Justice Mohammed Turaki Adamu ruled in favour of the plaintiffs.
Those affected are candidates for Andoni, Etche I and II, Tai, Gokana, Oyigbo, Eleme, as well as Port Harcourt I, II and III, Khana Constituency I and II Okrika, Ahoada West and Obio/Akpor I and II constituencies.
Meanwhile, the leadership of the APC in the State has called on its members and supporters not to be deterred by the judgement of the Federal High Court.
The APC Campaign Council, in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Friday by the party’s spokesman, Sogbeye Eli, assured that the party was making moves to appeal against the Court judgement.
“In the 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," parts of the statement read.
