Rivers APC calls for calm over court decision

…assures faithful of victory at Appellate Court

The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has urged its members to remain calm following the ruling of the Federal High Court which nullified all the party’s primaries in the state.

This was contained in a statement by spokesman, Tonye Cole/Innocent Barikor 2023 Gubernatorial Campaign Council Sogbeye C. Eli.

The party said it believed that the judgement of the high court would be upturned by higher courts.

“The All Progressives Congress (APC), Rivers State has received the news of the nullification of the duly conducted primary elections for all candidates of the party for the 2023 general elections by a judgment of a Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt.

“The learned trial judge agreed with the plaintiffs contrary to the evidence led by our party to prove that the plaintiffs were not members of the APC. The judge came to his judgment even when the Register of APC members filed with the INEC was exhibited to show that they were not members of APC. “The trial court, in its wisdom, ignored all the evidence adduced and found for the plaintiffs who are not members of our party neither are they aspirants to any of the primaries conducted by the APC.

“Furthermore, we wish to state that the trial court came to its conclusions regardless of the court’s attention being drawn to a recent judgment of the Supreme Court in the case of Hon. Monday Iyare Osagie & Ors. Vs. Victor Engham Charles Egbon where the Supreme Court held that it is only an aspirant who contested a primary resulting from the congresses that can challenge any irregularities arising from the said congresses.

“To our chagrin, the learned trial court ignored the said judgment of the apex court and granted all the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs.

“We are fully aware of, and appreciate, the intensity of apprehension this judgment has caused our party members given the experience of 2019 and appeal that we all remain calm and keep faith with the Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022, the judicial processes and the party.

“Party members are further assured that our party immediately began the process of appeal and are confident that the appellate courts would do justice to our case in accordance with the law and judicial precedents by overturning today’s judgment and consequently restore our candidates on the ballot,” the statement read.