The APC had approached Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt to direct the Independent National Electoral Commission not to recognize state House of Assembly candidates of PDP for allegedly refusing to duly sign the list of candidates and submit on the stipulated date.
But presiding judge, Justice Emmanuel Obile in his judgment dismissed the suit for lack of jurisdiction based on preliminary objection raised by the defendants, the PDP and all the state house of Assembly candidates.
Justice Obile also ruled that the the session two hundred and eight-five, fourteen C been relied on, does not avail APC as a political party the locus Standi to sue and interfere in another political party’ affairs.
The Judge explained that the law only avails a political party the right to sue INEC when it wrongly disqualifies a candidate of a party
He also ruled that the suit was filed outside the stipulated fourteen days which rendered it status bad.
Speaking to newsmen outside the courtroom, one of the Counsels to APC, Emenike Ebete expressed happiness that the pronouncement by the court has interpreted a session of the law which the PDP has used to remove other political parties from ballot.
On his part, one of the Counsels to PDP, Dike Udenna in an interview with Today FM’s Uchendu Ejiowhor said with the judgment, all the PDP state house of Assembly candidates are now free to contest the 2023 general elections.
It will interest to know that the People’s Democratic Party is challenging the candidature of Patrick Tonye-Cole of APC, the State and National House of Assembly, relying on the same Session of the constitution to disqualify them.
The judgment in the suit against Patrick Tonye-Cole has been fixed on the 24th of November, 2022 while that of state House of Assembly has been fixed for 30th of November
