Chukwuemeka Njokumgbachi, Abuja
The
Supreme Court of Nigeria on Tuesday dismissed an appeal filed by the
All Progressives Congress, challenging it’s exclusion from participating
in the forthcoming general elections in Rivers state. Ruling
on a preliminary objection raised by the respondents, Ibrahim Umar and
22 other aggrieved members of APC, Justice Aliyu Sanusi, in a lead
judgement said, there was substance in the objection raised by the
respondent. Consequently, the preliminary objection having been upheld, “the appeal is struck out”.Justice Sanusi stated that reasons for striking out the appeal would be given on a date to be announced to parties. In
a unanimous decision, the 5-man apex panel led by Justice Bode Rhodes
Vivour, held that the judgement in APC’s appeal stands for two other
appeals filed by various interests challenging the exclusion of APC, and
it’s candidates from participating in the general elections. By
the decision of the apex court, the ambition of Tonye Cole to contest
the gubernatorial election in Rivers state has been dealt a fatal blow. Details later…..