A Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State presided by Justice Turaki Mohammed has disqualified 16 House of Assembly candidates of All Progressives Congress (APC) from contesting the 2023 assembly election.
Delivering judgment in the case brought by the Peoples Democratic Party in PDP v. INEC & 33 others in suit number FHC/PH/CS/152/2022, Justice Turaki Mohammed ruled in favour of the plaintiffs due to non-monitoring of the APC primaries by INEC.
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The affected constituencies include Andoni, Etche 1 and 2, Tai, Gokana, Oyigbo, Eleme, Port Harcourt Constituency 1, 2 and 3, Khana Constituency 1 and 2, Okrika, Ahoada West and Obio/Akpor Constituency 1 and 2.
With this verdict, only the candidates of APC for Ahoada East 1 and 2, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni 1 and 2, Emohua, Degema, Akuku Toru 1 and 2, Asari Toru 1 and 2, Bonny, Ikwerre, Omuma, Opobo/Nkoro, Abua/Odual and Ogu/Bolo were spared by the judgment.
Reacting to the judgment, APC Campaign Council spokesman, Sogbeye Eli urged members and the supporters of the candidates in the affected constituencies not to despair, saying they will appeal the judgment.