Court dismisses suit against Rivers election

An Abuja high court sitting has dismissed a suit filed by the African Action Congress (AAC) seeking to stop the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from collating the results of the governorship and house of assembly elections held on March 9, in Rivers state.

The suit, marked FHC/ ABJ/CS/303/2019, was filed by AAC, Biokpomabo Awara, the party’s governorship candidate in Rivers State, and Ben-Gurion John Peter.

The respondents to the suit, which was filed on March 18, were the INEC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

In a ruling on Tuesday, Inyang Ekwo, the judge, held that since the case was related to election, it was appropriate for the plaintiffs to take their case before an election tribunal.

The judge also supported the preliminary objection filed by the PDP to challenge the jurisdiction of the court to hear the case.

According to Ekwo, the PDP was right that the federal high court lacked jurisdiction to hear the case adjudge to be seeking post-election prayers which could only be entertained by an election petition tribunal.

The judge further declined jurisdiction and dismissed the case.