The Supreme Court on Friday annulled a ruling of the Court of Appeal which allowed the All Progressives Congress, APC, to field candidates in Rivers State in the general elections.
The court of record said the appellate court failed to make use of relevant sections of the law by dismissing the decision of the Federal High Court barring the party from participating in 2019 polls in the state.
A faction of the APC in the state, led by Magnus Abe had challenged the decision of the high court at the Court of Appeal Court.
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On Monday, the Appeal court stayed the execution of the lower court judgment, giving hope to the APC candidates in the state.
However, Justice Omotosho in his ruling questioned the basis upon which the appeal court reached its ruling and set the decision aside while upholding the ruling of the high court.
With this judgment, Rivers State APC candidates will not be participating in the National Assembly election on February 16 as well as the governorship and state House of Assembly elections billed to take place on March 2.
Amos Abba is a journalist with the International Center for Investigative Reporting, ICIR, who believes that courageous investigative reporting is the key to social justice and accountability in the society.