The battle between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State has taken a new twist, as the APC on Thursday, dragged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the PDP to court in two separate suits.
This comes after the PDP in July filed a suit before a Federal High Court to seek the non-recognition of APC candidates for the National Assembly election by INEC because the electoral umpire did not monitor the primaries, among other alleged discrepancies.
In one of the suits filed by the APC on Thursday, marked, FHC/PH/CS/162/2022, the party prayed a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt to disqualify the Governorship candidate of the PDP, Siminialayi Fubara from contesting the election over allegations that his party erred on some provisions of the new electoral act.
In the second suit, with number FHC/PH/CS/163/2022, the APC is seeking the powers of the court to disqualify all 32 candidates of the PDP for the State Assembly elections for same reasons.
The reasons are that the PDP delayed in forwarding the register containing the names of their candidates to the Independent National Electoral Commission within thirty days as required by law.
The APC also alleged that the party did not properly sign the letter containing the names of the candidates before forwarding it to the electoral umpire.
When the matter was mentioned in court today, counsel to the APC, C.C. Dike moved a motion exparte for a substituted service.
The Presiding Judge, Justice Ayuah Phoebe granted the request, and adjourned the matter to August 31 for hearing.
PDP’S FIRST JAB
The PDP in July filed a suit challenging the National Assembly primaries conducted by the APC in Rivers State, alleging that the exercise was not monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission, among other alleged infractions.
The case was last heard on July 25 and adjourned till August 29 following the request by the lawyer to the PDP for more time to respond to some processes.
Before that adjournment, the APC Candidate for Ikwerre/Emohua Federal Constituency, EZEMONYE EZEKIEL-AMADI, who appeared for himself made unsuccessful attempts to notify the Judge of a pending application.
Outside the courtroom on the said July 25, Mr. Ezekie-Amadi told journalists that his application was to ask the judge to recuse himself from th case owing to his alleged relationship with the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike who is the leader if the PDP in the state.
