Jubilations in ADP, ADC over Court of Appeal revalidation of candidates

Eric Olusesan/Port Harcourt

There have been jubilations among the supporters of two parties viz: Action Democratic Party, ADP, and African Democratic Congress ADC, since on Tuesday when Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt set aside two Federal High Court judgments that disqualified their Candidates.

Two Federal High Court judgments had invalidated the nominations of Action Democratic Party, ADP, and African Democratic Congress ADC House of Assembly candidates in Rivers State. 

However, the Lead Judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole, while delivering his judgment on the two different appeals granted the prayers of the appellants.

 Justice Kolawole said the lower court ordinarily should not have entertained the suits in the first place. 

The Judge also ruled that the Candidates of the two political parties for the position of the House of Assembly were validly nominated and could participate in the forthcoming general elections. 

Recall that the Federal High Court presided over by Justice Turaki Mohammed had invalidated the nomination of five House of Assembly candidates of ADP and seven ADC House of Assembly candidates after the Peoples Democratic Party,PDP, in Rivers State dragged them to Court accusing them of   noncompliance with the new Electoral Act. 

The Court of Appeal judgment has now reinstated the affected constituencies of ADP. It will now field candidates for: Emohua, Eleme, Bonny, Omuma, and Oyigbo State House of Assembly.

Speaking to Journalists outside the Court room, One of the lawyers to PDP, Dike Udenna, said they will get the copy of the judgement and advised their clients on what to do after studying the judgement.

In an interview, the lawyer to ADP, Donald Otogbo, explained that this judgment has confirmed that democracy is at work in the State. 

In the meantime, the chairman of ADP in Rivers State, Christian Kendrick said the judgment is a win for Rivers people.