As Supreme Court nullifies outcome of pro-Amaechi’s congresses, primary
Admin l Monday, October 22, 2018
PORT HARCOURT, Rivers, Nigeria – Senator Magnus Ngei Abe, representing Rivers South East Senatorial District, has declared that the candidature of Tonye Dele Cole as the governorship candidate of the Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is incurably defective. He added that the pro-Amaechi’s state executive led by Ojukaiye Flag-Amachree; all elective candidates for the 2019 general elections who emerged through the indirect primary directed by the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) as well as the ward, local government and state congresses that were held on May 19, 20 and 21, respectively, were also incurably defective.
Abe spoke, in his campaign office in Port Harcourt, on the heels of the Supreme Court ruling, Monday, which upheld the judgment of a high court of Rivers State, that nullified the May 19, 20 and 21 ward, local government and state congresses; the State Executive Committee (SWC) and all candidates elected by delegates chosen through the outlawed congresses.
According to Senator Abe, the Court of Appeal cannot hep the pro-Amaechi group of the APC because it’s position and actions are against the ruling of a court of competent jurisdiction.
“They held their congresses against an injunction granted by a court of competent jurisdiction. They knew that a matter regarding the process of the congresses was pending in court. The Supreme Court ruled that they cannot benefit from their stupidity. The Supreme Court ruled that it was unfair and unconstitutional for the party to deprive members of the party who paid for forms to participate in the congresses. And, therefore, anyone that emerged from that unconstitutional process remains nullified.”
“So, for anyone to continue to parade himself as a member of an Exco, or as a candidate of the party, emanating from that illegal process is nothing but political rascality of the highest order.”
Abe advised: “It is high time the leaders of the party understand this and do what is proper and put the party in the right frame so that we can begin the hard work necessary to win Rivers State in 2019.”
“Luckily, the party conducted direct primary as directed by the National Executive Committee (NEC) and elected candidates for elective offices, while the other primary was in clear violation of an existing court order. The party should do the right thing now that the Supreme Court has ruled on the matter.”
Senator Abe clarified: “The party has fallen into a pit from which it cannot extricate itself. Even if the Court of Appeal sets aside the judgment of the lower court, it will still fail at the Supreme Court, because at the time they held the congresses there was a subsisting order restraining the party from conducting the so-called congresses.”
“So, they should stop deceiving Rivers people that they are sure of pushing through their illegal agenda. The Supreme Court is the highest court in Nigeria and it has spoken. The party should now do the right thing.”
