Setback for Tonye Cole as appeal court upholds nullified Rivers APC congresses

The Port Harcourt division of the appeal court on Wednesday upheld the nullification of the Rivers All Progressives Congress (APC) congresses.

The court struck out the appeal filed by Tonye Cole, the factional Rivers APC governorship candidate.

The appeal filed by factional chairman of Rivers APC, Ojukaye Flag Amachree, was also dismissed, a development which means the party has no ward, council, and state executives.

The Amachree-led executive had overseen the exercise which produced Cole as the party’s governorship candidate.

But a high court judgment of October 10 voided the congresses, including the election of Cole, on the grounds of disobedience to the court order.

Abubakar Yahaya, the justice who chaired the three-man appeal court panel, said the appeal against the high court judgement on the party’s congresses lacks merit.

The third appeal which centered on the judgement by Justice Chinwendu Nwogu was dismissed because it was filed out of time.

Emenike Ebete, counsel to Amachree, has said his client will approach the supreme court to contest the judgment.

The Amachree-faction of Rivers APC is loyal to Rotimi Amaechi, minister of transportation.

Amaechi is backing Cole, the recognised candidate of the APC, over Magnus Abe, who emerged as the factional governorship candidate.