Court Strikes Out Suits Seeking To Sack Accord guber Candidate, Others In Rivers

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A lawsuit filed by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, challenging Accord’s right to participate in the Rivers State general elections in 2023 was dismissed by the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt on Tuesday for lack of jurisdiction.

In a second case, Justice Stephen Daylop-Pam, the presiding judge, likewise dismissed for lack of jurisdiction the PDP’s claim against all of Accord’s National Assembly candidates.

In his ruling, Justice Daylop-Pam avoided discussing the merits of the case and instead based it on recent decisions of the Appeal Court in Lagos and Rivers State, which held that no court has the authority to hear a lawsuit brought by another political party that is interfering with internal party matters.

The judge noted that any attempt by him to interfere in the matter after the appellate court had taken a decision on a similar matter will amount to him being tagged a rascal.

He thereafter upheld the objections of the counsels to the defendants against the suit.

Lawyers to the defendants in the suit, Benjamin Omeje and Joy Nuniee, described the judgment as a victory for democracy.

Counsel to PDP, Dike Udenna, refused to speak to journalists.

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