The All Progressives Congress in Rivers State has alleged a conspiracy between the Independent National Electoral Commission and some judges to frustrate its (APC) petitions brought before the tribunals in respect of the March 28 and April 11 general elections in the state.
The party’s allegation is coming on the heels of last week’s ruling by the National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal in the matters of Dr. Dawari George and Lucky Odili of Asari-Toru/Akuku-Toru Federal Constituency and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Federal Constituency respectively.
Both men, according to the state APC, had filed petitions challenging the victory of Boma Goodhead of Asari-Toru/Akuku-Toru Federal Constituency and Prince Nnam Obi of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Federal Constituency.
The tribunal had dismissed the petitions on the grounds that APC’s revised notice for the conduct of the party’s primaries for the said elections was not within the stipulated 21 days.
The State APC Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, said in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Monday, that cases should not be thrown out on mere technical grounds.
Ikanya noted that while his party was still grappling with the sacking of 22 elected council chairmen, a panel of judges presiding over the National Assembly election petition tribunals had moved again to create its own laws outside the Electoral Act 2011.
He pointed out that the situation denied George and Odili the right to a fair hearing in their petitions against the INEC and the PDP.
Ikanya said, “The panel had after several applications filed by PDP to frustrate the suit at the early stage, decided to strike out the suits on the grounds of technicalities.
“The reason cited by the tribunal is based on section 85(1) of the Electoral Act 2011, which states that political parties shall give 21-day notice to INEC before their primaries are held to choose their candidates, an Act which APC allegedly did …Read More
Source:: New Mail
