A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has dismissed a suit challenging the emergence of Dumo Lulu-Briggs as the governorship candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), effectively clearing the way for his participation in the 2027 Rivers State governorship election.

The suit, instituted by Kings Unyeawaji, one of the party’s governorship aspirants, was filed against the NDC, its National chairman, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and Lulu-Briggs.

Unyeawaji, through an originating summons, challenged the outcome of the party’s governorship primary, alleging that he was unlawfully excluded from the exercise that produced Lulu-Briggs as the party’s candidate.

Counsel to Lulu-Briggs, Ibim Dokubo, had urged the court to decline jurisdiction over the matter, arguing that the plaintiff lacked the locus standi to institute the action.

However, at the resumed hearing of the matter, counsel to the plaintiff informed the court that an application had been filed to discontinue the suit. The application was not opposed by the defendants.

In his ruling, the presiding judge, Justice Muhammed Turaki, dismissed the suit, bringing the legal challenge to an end.

Addressing journalists outside the courtroom, Dokubo said the dismissal of the case had removed every legal impediment to his client’s governorship ambition.

He explained that with the court’s decision, the coast was now clear for Lulu-Briggs to contest the 2027 governorship election in Rivers State.

Reacting to the judgment, Lulu-Briggs expressed satisfaction with the outcome, describing it as the beginning of his journey to victory in the 2027 election.