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Tag: Rivers APC

  • When will peace return to Rivers APC?

    Supporters of the Rivers State All Progressives Congress (APC), Minister of Transport Rotimi Amaechi and Senator Magnus Abe have resumed their hostilities.

    Amaechi’s associate, Chief Chukwuemeka Eze has alleged plans by Abe to eliminate him. The senator said the allegation was a figment of imagination. But, Eze is adamant, saying that Abe is a supporter of the governor.

    Governor Nyesom Wike, on collecting his certificate of return after the controversial elections that returned him to power, offered an olive branch to his many political traducers.

    In a statewide broadcast, following the announcement of the governorship election result, Wike said:

    “I therefore appeal to the APC and the Minister of Transportation to join hands with us to move our dear State forward. We cannot as leaders continue to remain divided and expect Government to deliver on its responsibilities to our people.

    “Let us from henceforth seek the common ground instead of allowing our differences to be exploited to retard our march to progress. I appeal to our people to eschew all acts of acrimony, criminality, unrest, and violence throughout the state.”

    The minister of transportation and leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC in the state, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi was to reiterate that point in his Easter message when he called on those who lost during the recent elections not to give up hope.

    He said: “I appeal to all who truly love our dear Rivers State to join hands in building the state, irrespective of their party affiliations.

    “No amount of provocation or even threats should challenge the Rivers spirit of oneness, unity and harmony in you.

    “To the youths, I urge you not to see crime as an escape route from the difficult times we are going through in Rivers State today. I am confident that with resilience and prayer, you can always pull through.”

    However, amid the reconciliation Eze, punctured the serenity with his petition of an alleged assassination against him.

    Eze, who is Amaechi’s alter ego, blamed Abe, who he said was working in cahoots with Wike against Amaechi.

    Eze alleged a collaboration between Abe and Wike, saying both of them worked to frustrate Amaechi and the  APC in its bid to field candidates in the recent general elections. Abe was at the head of the dissenting group within the Rivers State APC that stopped the mainstream from presenting candidates. It was a development that was heartily welcomed by Wike and the PDP.

    Eze said: “Senator Magnus Abe has been angry that I exposed how he teamed up with elements within and outside Rivers State to ensure that APC in Rivers state did not field a candidate in the just concluded general elections and how he has ceaselessly castigated and impugned the personality of Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, the immediate past Governor of Rivers state and the incumbent Minster of Transportation.

    Claiming that Abe has a grouse with Eze on account of his close affinity with Amaechi and President Muhammadu Buhari, he said:

    “This is the same man who happened to be his benefactor and mentor. I have been severally threatened by the Senator and his boys over my defense of the Minster and my exposing their plots against him by teaming up with PDP elements within and outside Rivers State to promote the candidates of PDP in the last elections including even the presidential ambition of Atiku Abubakar all because of a desperate hope of making Atiku’s ministerial cabinet.”

     

     

     

     

     

  • Supreme Court seals Rivers APC’s fate

    It was the end of the road on Thursday for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State as the Supreme Court struck out three appeals filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC), Tonye Patrick Cole and members of his faction of the party.

    The appeals were against the judgment that excluded the APC from fielding candidates in the last elections in the state.

    A seven-man panel of the apex court, led by Justice Ibrahim Muhammad held, in a ruling on Thursday that the three appeals were defective, incompetent and could not be heard by the court.

    The appeals were: SC/295/ 2019 filed by APC, with People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) listed among respondents; SC/266/2019 filed by APC, with Magnus Abe and others as respondents and SC/267/2019 filed by Tonye Patrick Cole, with Magnus Abe and others as respondents.

    Justice Muhammad, in the first ruling delivered on SC/295/2019, upheld that argument by PDP’s lawyer, Emmanuel Ukala (SAN) to the effect that the notice of appeal filed by the APC was defective.

    Read Also: Rivers APC Primaries, INEC and Supreme Court uncertainty

    The judge noted that, rather the heading a portion of the notice of appeals “Reliefs sought from the Supreme Court,” it was wrongly headed “Reliefs sought from the Court of Appeal.”

    He said the implication of that error was that the appellant did not seek any relief from the Supreme Court, and thereby contravened the court’s rules, particularly Order 8 Rule 2, a development that rendered the appeal incompetent.

    The same errors were noticed in the other two appeals, which made the appellants’ lawyers, Jibrin Okutepa (SAN) and Tuduru Ede to withdraw both appeals, following which the court struck them out.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had, based on a judgment of a Rivers State High Court, which was upheld by the Court of Appeal, excluded candidates of the Rivers APC from its last elections.

    By the three appeals, the APC had sought a consolidation of all existing appeals relating to the dispute over the primary elections held in the state; the avoiding of the judgment on which INEC acted and the recognition of Patrick Cole and others as the party’s actual candidates.

    Patrick Cole (APC governorship candidate) and others had emerged from the primary conducted by a faction of the party, which the Senator Magnus Abe faction objected to.

    When the first appeal marked: SC/295/2019 was called, Okutepa, for the appellant, adopted the appellant’s brief of argument and urged the court to allow the appeal.

    Okutepa urged the court to set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal, which described the appeal by the APC against the judgment of the trial court as mere academic exercise.

    He urged the court to invoke it powers under Section 22 of the Supreme Court Act to hear and determine this issue on the merit and grant the reliefs the Court of Appeal failed to grant.

    While responding, Ukala urged the court to dismiss the appeal for being unmeritorious and uphold his preliminary objection.

    Ukala in arguing his preliminary objection, referred the court to page 1768, volume 3 of the records of appeal and argued that the reliefs sought by the appellant, as contained in the page, are not grantable by this court.

    He noted that “all the reliefs it (the appellant) sought can only be granted by the Court of Appeal, because it is directed at that court. In this instance, there are no valid reliefs before this court.”

    Ukala, who argued that the error noted in the notice of appeal was fatal to the appeal, said it breached Order 2 Rule 8 and Order 8 Rule 2 of the Supreme Court’s Rules.

    He argued that, by asking the court to invoke Section 22 of the Supreme Court Act to determine the case on the merit and set aside the judgment in the suit marked: PHC/78/2018, the appellant wants the court to overrule itself.

    Ukala contended that the court had, in its earlier decisions in cases relating to the
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  • Rivers APC primaries: Supreme Court strikes out Abe’s case

    The Supreme Court on Monday in Abuja struck out an appeal filed by Sen. Magnus Abe, challenging the primary election conducted by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers state.

    Abe had prayed the court to make a pronouncement on the direct and indirect primary elections conducted by the APC for the nomination of its candidates for the 2019 general elections.

    The apex court struck out the appeal on the grounds that the notice of appeal filed by the Senator was defective and not in compliance with the order of the court.

    The acting Chief Justice, Ibrahim Muhammad held that the notice of appeal offended section 285 of the 1999 constitution.

    Muhammad said amendment cannot be done to the notice of appeal in view of the fact that the 14 days required by the law to file the appeal had expired.

    Abe had approached the court asking it to make clarification on which of the two primary elections was authentic in the eyes of the law.

    Read Also: Supreme Court to hear APC primaries appeals on April 8 and 11

    However, the APC through its counsel, Mr Jibrin Okutekpa(SAN) objected to hearing of the appeal arguing that names of persons affected by the suit were not listed on the notice of the appeal.

    Okutekpa said this made the appeal incompetent and incurably defective.

    The court rejected the plea by Abe’s counsel, Henry Bello that the omission he erroneously made should not be visited on his client.

    He added that the notice of appeal could not be refilled because the 14 days allowed by the law had expired.

  • Rivers APC primaries: Supreme court fixes April 8, 11 to hear 4 appeals

    The Supreme Court on Thursday adjourned hearing in the four appeals on Rivers State All Progressive Congress(APC) primary election, for nomination of candidates for 2019 general election, until April 8 and 11.

    The apex court adjourned hearing in the matter for various reasons, but mainly for the absence of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) counsel.

    The appeals are; those of Sen. Magnus Abe against INEC and others, Mr Tonye Cole against Sen. Abe.

    Others are the APC against the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) and the APC seeking for consolidation on all the pending appeals.

    Abe in his appeal, is praying the apex court to make a pronouncement on the authenticity of the direct and indirect primary elections by the APC, on Rivers nomination of candidates.

    The appellant specifically wants the court to determine which of the two appeals is known to law and to be recognised by the INEC.

    However, when the matter came up, Abe’s counsel, Mr Henry Bello, informed the court of his motion seeking to amend his appeal.

    Read Also; Supreme Court dismisses NSCDC’s appeal against judgment voiding sack of staff

    But the matter was stalled, due to the absence of the INEC’s counsel who was the first respondent.

    Bello sought for order to stand down the matter to enable the arrival of the INEC’s counsel but the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Mohammed Bello declined.

    The acting CJN who presided over the matter ruled that the apex court does not stand down matters for anybody or group.

    This therefore, prompted the CJN to adjourn hearing until April 8, for the parties to present their cases.

    In the two other appeals by Mr Tonye Cole, a factional governorship candidate and APC, Mohammed adjourned hearing until April 11 to enable parties to file and exchange their processes.

    The acting CJN who led a seven-man panel of the apex court also abridged time for the parties to file and exchange papers since pre-election matters are time bound.

    In the fourth appeal by the APC seeking a consolidation of all existing appeals, relating to the primary election, the court adjourned hearing indefinitely for the party to regularise their processes.

  • Oshiomhole’s statement on Rivers twisted, says APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused the media of twisting a statement by its National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, to suit “a jaundiced narrative”.

    The party said there was no disagreement between Oshiomhole and Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, on the adoption of the governorship candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) for the Rivers State governorship election.

    A statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Lanre Issa Onilu, said while the party has no formal alliance with the AAC, that has not foreclosed any arrangement by any local chapter of the party.

    The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to some reports in the media purporting a disagreement between the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, over the alignment of the Rivers State APC with the governorship candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Awara Biokpomabo.

    Read also: Rivers: INEC to resume collation of of March 9 elections results

    “It is regrettable that Oshiomhole’s statement is being twisted to suit a jaundiced narrative. This narrative is at best, mischievous, pedestrian and should be disregarded.

    “Oshiomhole’s statement is unambiguous as to the effect that the APC’s National Working Committee (NWC) does not have any formal alliance with AAC. This is without prejudice to any local arrangement that may exist.

    “Both Oshiomhole and Ameachi are above the petty insinuations being orchestrated by a section of the media. Oshiomhole and Amaechi enjoy cordial relationship and do share mutual respect; therefore, deliberate misinterpretation of issues and statements from the party or between the two of them would continue to fail.”

  • Rivers APC kicks as INEC resumes collation of March 9 elections results

    The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has kicked against alleged plan by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to favour Governor Nyesom Wike of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Collation of results of the March 9 governorship and House of Assembly elections are resuming tomorrow in the Southsouth state.

    Ahead of the resumption, the party’s Publicity Secretary  Chris Finebone, yesterday in Port Harcourt, accused Wike of desperation to be re-elected, thereby depriving the state’s governorship candidate of African Action Congress (AAC), Biokpomabo Awara, of his mandate.

    The APC, which was stopped by the Supreme Court from fielding candidates in the state elections following internal dispute over party primaries, is backing the 40-year-old AAC standard bearer.

    INEC’s National Commissioner in charge of Rivers, Bayelsa and Edo states, May Agbamuche-Mbu, a lawyer, stated in Port Harcourt at the weekend during a stakeholders’ meeting that the commission was not taking sides with any political party or candidate.

    Governor Wike and his AAC challenger Awara were among the stakeholders at the meeting.

    Agbamuche-Mbu also insisted that the results of the elections were not tampered with, but kept in INEC’s strong room, calling on Rivers residents to allow peace to reign in the state before, during and after the activities outlined for the conclusion of the controversial elections.

    Rivers APC, however, said: “We condemn in strong terms, the so-called timeline and activities to conclude the March 9 governorship and House of Assembly elections in Rivers State, as announced at the stakeholders meeting. It is a mere charade, well-organised and choreographed by INEC, in its bid to work from answer to question.

    “The ultimate result can only be to announce their (INEC’s) preferred partner and collaborator (Wike) as the winner, against the AAC’s governorship candidate (Awara), who was clearly in the lead before collation was aborted (on March 10). Whether INEC will succeed in its machinations will be seen in the days to come.

    “Several actions of INEC had prepared the minds of many that the entire exercise was skewed to favour Wike and the PDP, leaving in the process, several questions without answers.

    “How come that Wike knew about the 17 local government areas, which results had been allegedly collated and had posted same on his (Wike’s) official Twitter handle, long before INEC made the announcement? Answers to this and other questions will continue to hang on the neck of INEC like an albatross.”

    The APC blamed the logjam in the Rivers electoral process on what it called a tripartite collaboration between Wike and the INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Obo Effanga, ably assisted by the Administrative Secretary of the commission in Rivers, Elder Etim Umoh.

    But Wike, through his Commissioner for Information and Communications, Emma Okah, declared that APC’s accusation against him was meaningless and senseless.

    The Rivers commissioner, who doubles as PDP Campaign Council’s Information and Communications Director, said: “The APC’s accusation that INEC is favouring Governor Wike does not hold water. It is the same old song; empty, meaningless and senseless. Majority of Rivers people do not take the APC in the state seriously.

    “They (APC members in Rivers State) blame everybody, apart from themselves, for every problem. When they had internal problems that cost them their place in the ballot, they blamed others. When their adopted puppet in AAC could not win one unit in the state, because he was unknown and never campaigned, the APC blamed others.”

    Okah also stated that like a bad workman, who would always quarrel with his tools, leaders of the APC in Rivers would attempt to teach INEC, soldiers, police etc., how to do their job, accusing them of resorting to blackmail whenever they meet a brick wall.

    In his remarks at the stakeholders’ meeting on Saturday, the INEC administrative secretary said: “We have the results for these seventeen LGAs: Ahoada East, Akuku-Toru, Andoni, Bonny, Eleme, Emohua, Etche, Ikwerre, Obio/Akpor, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Ogu/Bolo, Okrika, Omuma, Opobo/Nkoro, Oyigbo, Port Harcourt and Tai. Their (17 LGAs) collation was at the local government level. Collation was not completed in the remaining six LGAs: Abua/Odual, Ahoada West, Asari-Toru, Degema, Gokana and Khana.

    “In Abua/Odual LGA, the materials and men did not even go out to the field. They were frustrated from going out and elections did not take place there. In Gokana LGA, materials and men went out to the field, but none came back, because there was outright violence and everything was destroyed. So, we do not have any result from there.

    “In Ahoada West LGA, out of about 100 polling units, we have results in only 24 and that is not good enough. Asari-Toru LGA was not concluded, but we have the polling units’ results available, but they were not collated. Degema LGA has 17 registration areas, which we call wards in INEC’s context, and collation took place in ten, remaining seven.

    “The seven wards, their results are in INEC’s strong room. In Khana LGA, there was no collation at the local government level, but we have results from the polling units and the collation from some wards available.”

    Umoh also disclosed that the collation, scheduled for between April 2 and 5, would hold at the INEC’s office on Aba Road, Port Harcourt.

    The Rivers Commissioner of Police, Usman Belel, also assured during the stakeholders’ meeting that there would be adequate security of lives and property of residents of the state before, during and after the collation of results.

    Belel, who is also the Chairman of the Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) in the state, expressed optimism that the collation would be hitch-free, in view of the stakeholders’ synergy.

    The Police chief said: “As it is usual in every contest, winners and losers must emerge, but the maturity with which the contest’s results is accepted, determines how peaceful the society can be.

    “I wish to appeal to all stakeholders to give peace a chance (in Rivers State) and be magnanimous, either in victory or in defeat, as there will still be Rivers State beyond these elections.”

  • APC’s Cole calls for fresh governorship poll in Rivers

    Rivers State All Progressives Congress(APC) governorship candidate Tonye Cole on Friday called for fresh a governorship election.

    He said many controversies have trailed the March 9 exercise, urging the umpire to organise a corrective poll.

    Affirming the lack of confidence in the system by the two major parties involved in the contest, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the African Action Congress (AAC), he said any result emerging from the March 9 will not be acceptable to the losing party.

    Cole was silent on what will be his own involvement in a fresh election in his statement titled: “A plea for righteous intervention in Rivers State.”

    Noting the mutual suspicion between the two parties and the acrimony triggered by the contest, Cole pleaded for a fresh start under heavy security to guarantee the will of the people.

    He said: “If there is one thing that I am certain of, it is that the entire election of March 9th is totally and completely compromised from head to toe. There are no results that would be announced today that would reflect the will of the people in any form or manner.

    “There are just as many people who do not trust and will not accept an election that delivers PDP today because of the belief that the umpire has granted unfettered access to the result sheets and a yeoman’s job has been done on the collated results that is guaranteed to withstand any scrutiny through the Election Tribunals or any court of law thereafter just as there are as many people who will not accept a result that delivers the AAC because of the belief that the election day results were structured to favour them by the direct involvement of the military as insinuated by the PDP.

    “INEC must therefore declare the entire elections of March 9th null and void and set out a new date for fresh elections.

    “This time around, there are no distractions left and every eye is upon Rivers State now. The violent elements can be caged and neutralized so they are ineffective on the day of election. We have seen this happen.

    “The people can come out to vote without the fear of intimidation and harassment. We know this is possible.

    “The electoral officials can carry out their duties without compromise or fear of terror. We know this is achievable.

    Cole added: “The security agencies can provide the environment that enables them operate professionally and efficiently without fear of being shot at or killed in the line of duty.

    “We know this is desirable. The party agents and politicians can carry out their duties without the fear of being killed or maimed for their affiliations. We know this is progress.

    “This is a clarion call to the good men out there to conduct fresh elections in Rivers State where the entire focus of the world at large is upon our activities and us.

    “Let us give this land and its people something to cherish and be proud of, a solid foundation to build upon; a democratically elected government that is chosen by her people, freely and fairly, whether or not the chosen candidate is one who just entered politics yesterday or a veteran. Let us allow the people to choose and let their voice be heard loudly and respected completely.”

  • I’ll pursue my case further after Saturday’s poll – Tonye Cole

    The APC governorship candidate in Rivers state, Tonye Cole has said that even though his name will not be on the ballot for the governorship election on Saturday, he was fulfilled knowing the potential available to him in the state.

    He expressed appreciation to the people of the state, especially members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for standing by him while pursuing his case in court, asking them not to lose hope.

    In a statement made available to The Nation in Abuja, Cole informed his supporters across the state that he will be pursuing his case further at the Supreme Court after Saturday’s elections.

    He said: “Over the past few months, you have stood by me in prayer and encouraged me in no small means on this journey in politics. That prayer works, is evidenced in my life and testimony throughout the battles we took on and I have nothing but praise to God for using you as a spiritual anchor in very trying times.

    “Yesterday the Court of Appeal struck out our case on the grounds that the Supreme Court rulings make it impossible for them to deal with the case and therefore we must head back up for the Supreme Court to determine the substantive matter.

    “For this reason, neither I nor any APC candidate will be in the ballot this Saturday. This is but a pit stop and I will be assessing the next steps following the completion of the election.

    “Please by no means take this as a regrettable endeavor as nothing I have done to date can compare with the life lessons I have learnt these past months and how truly fulfilled I am of the potentials available to me now to impacting multitudes in the years ahead.

    “As a party, we have adopted the AAC candidate as our preferred choice and we trust we have made that the right choice in who will lead Rivers State next.

    ” Let me enjoin us to persevere a few more days in our waiting and raising praise unto our Lord until the election is done and dusted for it is critical they are concluded peacefully, with no loss of life and most importantly that a God’s choice for elected office holders is enthroned in Nigeria.”

  • Confusion over fate of APC in Rivers

    …as INEC clears party in Zamfara

    Following the reprieve for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara state allowing them to field candidates in the 2019 general elections, there is now confusion as to the fate of the party in Rivera state.

    There have been different rulings on the situation in Rivers state with the party holding onto the ruling which upheld the order of stay of execution given by the Court of Appeal by the Supreme Court.

    But the commission has insisted that there is no concrete order from the Supreme Court ordering it to accept the list of the party’s candidates in Rivers state.

    INEC chairman, Prof. Yakubu Mahmood said there was no relationship between the issue in Zamfara and the situation in Rivers, adding that the Commission had to jettison its earlier stance to exclude the APC in Zamfara based on the judgement of a Court of Appeal in Abuja which ordered that APC be restored on the ballot in the National Assembly, Governorship and State House of Assembly elections scheduled for 23rd February and 9th March 2019 respectively.

    But Professor Yakubu however insisted that the APC remained excluded from the elections in Rivers state citing a judgment of the Supreme Court, while apparently making reference to the judgment of Justice Sidi Barge of the apex court, which upheld the order of a Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, by Justice Chiwendu Nworgu, nullifying the All Progressives Congress primaries in Rivers State, Professor Yakubu insisted that the chances of the APC in Rivers was foreclosed.

    Read Also: APC appeals for adequate security in Okrika ahead of elections

    Responding to questions on the situation in Rivers, he said he was aware of a ruling of Supreme Court of February 11, 2019 delivered by Justice Olabode Rhodes Vivour, which upheld an order of stay of execution of the Court of Appeal of the judgment of Justice Nworgu of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, the INEC chairman said the ruling has not been brought to his attention.

    He said: “I am not aware there is any live order in the case of Rivers that INEC has not obeyed. By Thursday, I was aware there was a Court of Appeal judgment but everybody knows what the judgment is. I don’t know there is any live order that INEC has not obeyed in the case of Rivers.“

  • Rivers APC to INEC: enlist our candidates for poll

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has insisted  tha the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that it obeys court order by enlisting its candidates for the election.

    A letter by its lawyer, Tuduru Ede, and addressed to INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, reminded the commission that its candidates were removed from the list of contestants following the ruling of the Federal High Court.

    It noted that the commission has nothing to do with the case before the Rivers High Court as it was not a party to it.

    The letter reads: “We are solicitors to the All Progressives Congress (APC) (hereinafter referred to as our client), and on her behalf make this request. Recall that All Progressives Congress (APC) duly submitted the list of its candidates for Rivers State for the 2019 elections in line with the timetable and schedule of activities released by the commission.

    “Also recall that the names and particulars of its candidates were duly published by the commission as required by law. We are aware that pursuant to the judgment, the names of APC candidates in Rivers State were removed from the final list of candidates published by the commission…

    “The Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt Division further stayed the execution of the judgment of Federal High Court, Port Harcourt. We are therefore dismayed that despite the ruling of the Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court, the names of APC candidates have not been published by the commission.

    “In view of the foregoing, we call on the commission to publish the names for the election as submitted by APC. We have no doubt that the commission, as a law abiding institution, will accede to this request without delay.”

    But INEC has said it will uphold the Supreme Court ruling on its decision not to accommodate in the ballot paper, any All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for both governorship and legislative elections in the elections.

    The Supreme Court in Abuja upheld the order of a Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, which nullified the APC primaries in Rivers State, saying the primaries were held in disobedience to a court judgment barring the party from conducting congresses pending the determination of a suit filed by 22 aggrieved party members. The Apex Court set aside the ruling of the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt, which in October 2018 upturned the interlocutory order of the High Court.

    At a briefing to update Nigerians and the international community on preparations for Saturday’s polls, Prof. Yakubu insisted that since the Supreme Court, the highest court in the land, has ruled on it, the commission has no other option than to obey the order.

    He said: “On the Rivers State issue, I think the Supreme Court has a number of pronouncements on that matter. And, for that reason, the commission has taken the position made by the judgment of the Supreme Court. Under our constitution, the Supreme Court is the last court of resort for any citizen. There must be an end to litigations as lawyers say.

    “And, once a Supreme Court makes a pronouncement, all essence of authority in the land are bound to obey. The commission, as a law abiding institution, is bound by the judgment and there is nowhere else to go. We will go by the judgments of all the courts but once it gets to the Apex Court, that is the end to the litigation.”