Politics
Court Stops Rivers APC From Conducting LGA Congress
AS RIVERS APC DENIES HAVING LEGAL REPRESENTATIVE COUNSEL IN COURT
The planned All Progressive Congress –APC Local Government Congress meant to take place on Saturday 12th of May, 2018 has suffered a setback on Friday 11th of May, 2018 due to Interlocutory Court Order issued by JUSTICE Chinwendu Nworgu of Port Harcourt court which had restrained Rivers state chapter of All Progressive Congress -APC from conducting Delegate congress which would have seen the election of officers of the party who will in turn determine who emerges as Rivers APC Governorship standard bearer for the 2019 Rivers state Governorship election.
Court Sources said that in less than 24-hours a Bori High Court was able to transfer a Court case to High Court in Port Harcourt where Justice sat and issued Interlocutory injunction against the conduct of the Local Government Congress of the party. But the much high wired tension created by the presence of political jobbers and party loyalists caused disturbance outside the Court Room which made Security operatives to secure the Court environment with Policemen who took charge as there was smoke and discharge of Tear gas occasioned with gun-shots which sent people scampering to safety around the Rivers state Judiciary complex. Counsel to APC Rivers state chapter described the ruling as a kangaroo process that saying “the injunction was transferred from a High Court in Bori to Port Harcourt in less than 24-hours with the court aiding them”. The matter was adjoined to June 26 for Hearing on the substantive case.
The Rivers state executive Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike accompanied by Emma Aguma SAN, Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, chief of staff Hon. Engr. Emeka Woke and Chief Justice of Rivers State Chief Justice of Rivers State Chief Judge Honourable Justice Adama Lamikanra, immediately after the crises that took place at Port Harcourt judiciary complex, under took on-the-spot assessment of level of damages done by political hoodlums purported to have the backing of Minister for Transportation Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi as Ojukaiye Flag Amachree a staunch supporter of Amaechi led faction of APC with Ms Nancy Stephens and Honourable Asita O. Asita were seen leading the political hoodlums who allegedly caused the destruction of operating vehicles belonging to Judiciary workers of federal high Court Port Harcourt and that of others. The Amaechi led APC loyalists were said to have stormed the Port Harcourt judiciary with Federal –Special Anti-Robbery Squad –FSARS police officers.
Meanwhile on Thursday 10th of May 2018 All Progressive Congress Rivers state chapter issued a Press release signed by Senibo Chris Finebone Publicity secretary saying that “Information reaching us indicate that some individuals posing as members of APC in Rivers state has approached Rivers state High court seeking injunction against the holding of Local Government and subsequent congresses in Rivers state. And that it has also come to our notice that the same impostor has procured a Lawyer to represent APC in the Phoney Matter they surreptitiously brought before a court.
“By this Notice All Progressive Congress Rivers state chapter is hereby notifying the Rivers state and Federal Judiciary and general public that at no time was the APC served any court process and at no time did APC procure the services of any Counsel to handle such a matter in any court. The attempt at claiming a non existing court matter and the alleged appearance of a Counsel on behalf of the APC with briefing by the party is manifestly false, criminal and should be disregarded and such person arrested and prosecuted accordingly.
“ SO the APC re-iterate that any court or persons dealing with any such unauthorized persons do so at their own risk as the Rivers state chapter of All Progressive Congress –APC has neither been served any court process nor briefed any lawyer to deal on any such matter on the party’s behalf whatsoever. For avoidance of doubt the process for conducting the Local Government and other Congress has commenced and no-action can at this time stop a process that is already on–going”.
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The crises rocking Rivers state chapter of APC may not be unconnected with the struggle by Minister of Transportation Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi to stop Senator Magnus Ngei Abe from having nomination through delegates state Congress of Rivers state chapter of APC as those delegates elected at the Local Government Congresses will eventually participate in the election of Governorship candidate for All Progressive Congress-APC. And Amaechi had on May 5, 2018 at the Ward congresses held at the 319 wards had his way in having majority of his loyalists elected to participate in the local Governments Areas Congresses while Senator Magnus Ngei Abe’s supporters were outsmarted and shut-out from being elected in the process.
