A federal High Court in Port Harcourt dismissed an All Progressives Congress (APC) lawsuit contesting Siminialayi Fubara’s candidacy for governor of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
In his ruling on a preliminary objection put up by the PDP, Justice Emmanuel Obile dismissed the case due to the court’s lack of jurisdiction and the APC’s lack of locus standi to meddle in the internal affairs of the PDP.
Obile ruled that the APC’s lawsuit is time-barred since it was submitted five days after the required 14 days had passed. The judge concluded that the APC had failed to prove a valid basis for its claim.
The judge also declined to address the suit’s merits, stating that election regulations prohibit one political party from suing another political party. He then upheld PDP’s initial objection and granted PDP, its governorship candidate, and his running mate N50,000 in costs against APC.
PDP’s attorney, Dike Udenna, praised the decision in a press conference with journalists outside the courtroom. Chimenem Jerome, the APC’s attorney, questioned how the same High Court that had previously rendered decisions in cases involving the dismissal of candidates from other political parties now declared that it lacked jurisdiction over the case. The attorney informed his clients that he would advise them on what to do next.
While this is going on, Tonye Cole, the APC candidate for governor in Rivers State, has accused Governor Nyesom Wike of secretly running for a third term through his chosen candidate, Fubara.
