The court of Appeal in Port Harcourt has struck out the suit by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, against the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Patrick Tonye-Cole, and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, over non-compliance with the electoral act.
The Appeal Court also set aside the judgment of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt over the alleged dual citizenship of Tonye-Cole.
The appeal court, in setting aside the judgment of the federal high court, described the Rivers State PDP as a meddlesome interloper.
The three-man panel of appeal in a unanimous judgment said the PDP lacked the locus standing to challenge APC, its Governorship Candidate, and INEC over the conduct of the congresses and primary election that brought in architect Tonye Cole as the Party’s Governorship Candidate.
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On the issue of dual citizenship, the appeal court in the judgment delivered by Justice OLABODE ADEGBEHINGBE on behalf of the lead Judge, Justice Joseph Ikye, said PDP lacked the legal right to drag INEC to court in a pre-election matter and that the supreme court decision on the issue of citizenship on electoral matters was final.
Speaking to newsmen outside the court, one of the Counsels to APC, CHIMENEM JEROME described the judgment as a water shield in Political jurisprudence, saying that the APC had always argued that PDP did not have the locus standing to interfere with the Internal affairs of their clients, the APC which the appeal court has proved.
on his part, one of the Counsels to PDP, DIKE UDENNA after explaining the judgment, said although every party had the right to appeal that appealing this particular judgment at the Supreme court would be determined by the client.
(Editor: Hadiza.A.A)
