• Dismisses suit by AA aspirant against party candidate
• A’Court reserves judgment in appeal by APC over sacking of candidates

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The presiding Judge, Justice Stephen Daylop-Pam, while making reference to a recent judgment in the Court of Appeal in Lagos and Port Harcourt Divisions, upheld the preliminary objection of the defendant (Accord), striking out the case on the basis of lack of merit by the appellant. 

Daylop-Pam noted that ruling contrary to the precedence of the higher courts would be tantamount to being perceived as a rascal.  Speaking to newsmen after the judgment, counsel for Accord candidates, Benjamin Omeje, said the judgment was a victory for candidates of the party.

Counsel for PDP, Dike Udenna, declared that in as much as they were not happy with the judgment, they had no option but to accept it. Accord governorship candidate in Rivers State, Dumo Lulu-Briggs, said the judgment was expected, emphasising that earlier ruling by Appeal Courts in Rivers and Lagos states had already dealt with the matter. 

ALSO, Federal High Court in Port Harcourt has dismissed a suit brought by one of the governorship aspirants of Action Alliance (AA), Aleruchi Williams, against the governorship candidate of the party, Dawari George.

Williams, who reportedly came second in the party’s governorship primary, had asked the court to direct the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to disqualify George and declare him the candidate of the party. He contended that George had never been a member of AA and did not have the right to substitute him as the party’s governorship candidate of the party.
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But the presiding judge, Justice Patricia Ajoku, in her judgment, dismissed the suit for lack of locus standi and for filing out of time stipulated.

Ajoku noted that the plaintiff failed to participate in the August 10, 2022 primary that brought in the AA governorship candidate but participated in the first primary election and therefore did not have the locus standi to insist on the matter, hence she dismissed the suit for lacking in merit.

Speaking to newsmen outside the courtroom, Ibiene Amachree, who represented George, described the judgment as a family judgment that would strengthen the party and members towards winning the 2023 general elections.

MEANWHILE, Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt Division, has reserved judgment in an appeal by All Progressives Congress (APC) seeking to upturn the judgment of a lower court that disqualified its candidates from participating in the 2023 general election.

APC had approached the court to appeal the judgment of the Federal High Court, delivered on October 25, which disqualified candidates of the party over irregularities and exclusion of some persons during their primary election.

The three-man panel led by Justice Muhammed Lawal-Shuaibu, after taking submissions of both parties, reserved judgment to a later date that will be communicated to both parties. 
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