Federal High Court in Port Harcourt has nullified the nomination of seven House of Assembly candidates fielded by the African Democratic Congress ADC in Rivers State.
The nullification followed after the presiding Judge Justice Turaki Mohammed agreed with the Peoples Democtaric Party(PDP) in the State that the party did not comply with the new electoral act while conducting their primaries.
Recall that the PDP in the State took twelve House of Assembly
candidates of ADC for not complying with the new electoral act.
Justice Muhammed in his judgment said INEC does not have the legal
right again to publish and accept the candidacy of the seven ADC candidates because the evidence before him showed that the party failed to comply with the provisions of the new electoral law.
In the meantime, ADC Lawyer, O. Benibo in an interview with newsmen said they will study the judgment and know if they will appeal.
On his part, one of the PDP lawyers, Dike Udenna also said the court came to the conclusion that some of the House of Assembly candidates primary election conducted by ADC was improper,some were not monitored by INEC hence the court invalidated the elections.
The constituencies ADC will not field candidates are: Tai, Onelga, Etche, and Ahoada House of Assembly candidates. While Akuku-Toru 1 and 2, Port Harcourt 1,2 and 3 constituencies were not affected by the judgment.