As APC heads for Appeal Court

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

ABUJA—All Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday, lost its bid to sack six members of the National Assembly from Rivers State, who were on March 28, elected on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

In a marathon judgment, the Rivers State National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Abuja, dismissed all the petitions lodged against the PDP lawmakers by the APC and its candidates at the election.

Justice Muazu Pindiga, who read the judgments, held that the petitioners failed, by way of substantial evidence, to prove that the elections were marred by violence and manifest irregularities.
Stressing that the petitioners brought “improper witnesses”, to testify before the tribunal, the panel said it could not rely on hearsay evidence to annul the Rivers State National Assembly election and order a fresh poll as it was prayed to do.

Besides, the Justice Pindiga-led tribunal noted that whereas allegations the petitioners raised against the March 28 election were criminal in nature, “such allegation has to be proved beyond every reasonable doubt, a burden the petitioners have not been able to effectively discharge.”

The tribunal held that the proof of evidence the APC and its candidates presented against the respondents were “weak”, saying there was no substantial ground to warrant the cancellation of the election .

Upholding preliminary objections that were filed by PDP and its candidates, as well as that of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, the tribunal relied on section 85 (1) of the Electoral Act and held that the petitioners lacked the locus standi to seek the annulment of elections in all the federal constituencies in Rivers State.

“The petition fails and is hereby dismissed. Parties are to bear their costs,” the tribunal held.

The PDP lawmakers whose elections were upheld by the tribunal were Senator George Sekibo, representing Rivers East Senatorial District; Jerome Eke (Etche/Omuma federal constituency); Bright Gogo Tamuno (Okrika/Ogu-Bolu); Boniface Emerengwe, (Ikwerre/Emeouha), Kingsley Chinda (Obio/ Akpor) and Mrs. Blessing Nsiegbe for PHALGA 2.

Meantime, the APC and its candidates, yesterday, vowed to challenge the judgement of the tribunal at the Court of Appeal.

While the APC legal team at the National Assembly level is led by Chief B. E. Nwofor, SAN, its governorship election petition team is led by Chief Akinlolu Olujunmi, SAN.

kingdompropty:
[s]I have said it over and over. There is no place for APC in the SE and SS.

Reasons.

1. They see it as a sectional party.

2. They see it as an Islam party.

3. They see them as liars.

4. They see them as unserious minded.[/s]

hardywaltz:
[s]Let us watch and see what happens at the Court of Appeal
Justice Pindiga was the same judge that was thrown out of the Governorship election tribunal coz we already knew what he was up...

How can a Judge sit down for several weeks listening to the merits of the petition by the petitioner only to dismiss the case on the premise of Preliminary objections - failure of APC to give INEC 21 days notice before conducting its primaries.
An Issue the Court Of Appeal had earlier ruled in favour of APC last month.
With today's Judgement there is finally light at the end of the tunnel coz the COA will just reverse the entire ruling and give judgement based on the merits or demetrits of the petition and not on pre-election technicalities...[/s]

vedaxcool:



Speak for yourself, man.

Today is sad day for democracy, when the Judiciary failed to retrieve stolen property from beneficiaries of theft

kingdompropty:
I have said it over and over. There is no place for APC in the SE and SS.

Reasons.

1. They see it as a sectional party.

2. They see it as an Islam party.

3. They see them as liars.

4. They see them as unserious minded.

hardywaltz:
APC has already filed an appeal with the Court of Appeal...
It's finally time to put this 21days bullshiť to rest.

TonyeBarcanista:
This is a victory to every well-meaning rivers people. APC does not exist in Rivers state.
Congratulations to PDP!