The Court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt has set aside a Federal High Court judgement which disqualified the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Tonye Cole over alleged dual citizenship and non-compliance with the Electoral Act.
The suit was filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The Court of Appeal described the PDP as a “meddlesome interloper”.
The three-man panel said the PDP lacks the locus standi to challenge the APC, its Governorship Candidate and INEC on the conduct of the congresses and primary elections which brought in Cole as the candidate.
On the issue of dual citizenship, the Appeal Court in the judgment read by Justice Olabode Adegbehingbe on behalf of Justice Joseph Ikyegh ruled that the PDP lacks the legal right to drag INEC to court in a pre-election matter. The panel said the Supreme Court’s decision on the issue of citizenship regarding electoral matters is final.