•Anti-democratic forces won’t break us, says APC
A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has disqualified 16 House of Assembly candidates of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Rivers State from contesting the 2023 election. The trial judge, Justice Mohammed Adamu, who delivered the judgment on Friday, ruled that the primary elections that produced them did not comply with the new electoral Act. The judgment came a few weeks after another Federal High Court held that the APC in the state had no valid candidates for the forthcoming poll.
Justice Adamu ruled on a suit filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) alleging that the APC primary elections were not monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The constituencies affected by the judgement were Obio/Akpor 1&2, Andoni, Okrika, Ahoada west, Khana1&2 , PH 1, 2 &3 Etche 1&2 Oyigbo, Gokana, Tai, Eleme. Reacting to the judgment, the Spokesman, 2023 Elections Campaign Council of the Rivers APC, Sogbeye Eli, said the party would never break despite being strectched by anti-demicratic forces.
He urged party faithful and Rivers people supporting candidates not to despair saying the party would seek redress at the appeal court.
He said: “The enemies of democracy in our state who are afraid to meet us at the polls are out to break our spirit and force a fait accompli on the Rivers electorate who are backing our candidates but they have failed. We will contest the coming elections at all levels and win after setting aside this judgment as the Constitution allows the All Progressives Congress.”