BREAKING NEWS

Federal High Court sacks Dumo Lulu Briggs as Accord Party Rivers State Governorship Candidate

▪orders INEC to enlist Precious Baridoo as Rivers State Accord Party Governorship Candidate

A Federal High Court in Port Harcourt on Thursday sacked Mr Dumo Lulu Briggs as the Governorship Candidate of Accord Party for the 2019 Governorship Election on Saturday, 23 February 23, 2019.

The Court declared that Mr Precious Baridoo who was duly nominated during the October 4, 2018 Accord Party Governorship is the authentic candidate of the party.

Justice Emmanuel Obile of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt declared that Mr Dumo Lulu Briggs cannot participate in the Governorship Election because he was not duly nominated at the party's primary.

Justice Obile stated Lulu Briggs did not participate in the party's October 4, 2018 Governorship primary, hence he cannot be their candidate.

The Court stated that the defendants failed to challenge the affidavit of the plaintiff to controvert the facts contained therein.

Justice Obile ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to enlist the name of Precious Baridoo as the Rivers State Governorship Candidate of Accord Party.

The court directed INEC to remove the name of Dumo Lulu Briggs as the Rivers State Governorship Candidate for Accord Party .

It will be recalled Sir Precious Baridoo told the court that he was duly nominated during the party’s governorship primaries on October 4, 2018 before he was illegally substituted with the name of Chief Dumo Lulu Briggs who didn’t participate in the party’s governorship primaries.

He stated that Chief Dumo Lulu Briggs cannot claim to be the governorship candidate of Accord Party when he was not even a member of the party.

Counsel to Precious Baridoo, Mr Wori Wori described the judgment as victory for democracy. He said that the rules of political engagement must be respected.

Lawyer to Dumo Lulu Briggs stated that they will challenge the judgment at the Court of Appeal.