The Supreme Court yesterday upheld the judgement of a High Court in Port Harcourt nullifying the primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State.
A five-man panel of justices, presided by Justice Mohammed Dattijo dismissed the interlocutory injunction of the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt made on June 21, 2018 which recognised the local government congresses of May 12, 2018.
The apex court held that the APC having on September 13, 2018, through its Legal Adviser and counsel, Chieme Chinweikpe and Felix Nwafor, filed a valid Notice of Withdrawal of Appeal challenging the order of the high court against the congresses based on Order 11 Rule 1 of the Court of Appeal Rules 2016, the appeal remains dismissed.
In the lead judgement, Justice Sidi Bage further held that it was inappropriate for the Court of Appeal to rely on its injunction against the decision of the High Court when apex court had set it aside on October 22, 2018.
The latest Supreme Court verdict followed a suit filed by Ibrahim Umah and 22 others against the APC, wherein Justice Chinwendu Nwogu restrained the congresses.