A High Court sitting in Port Harcourt Wednesday struck out the suit instituted by one Ibrahim Umar and 22 others against the All Progressives Congress’ proposed arrangement to conduct the ward, local and state congresses in Rivers state.
With the pronouncement, the APC, which could not participate in the 2019 governorship election following series of court cases against the manner the party conducted its delegate congresses, can now conduct the exercise.
In deciding the case, the court also set aside the interim injunction obtained by the claimants on the 14th September, 2019 which stopped the APC from conducting the congresses in Rivers State scheduled for 17th, 18th and 21st of last September.
Delivering the judgment, presiding Judge, Justice G.O Ollor, ruled that the court lacked the power to enforce and interpret the judgment of the court of coordinate jurisdiction.
Justice Ollor also held that the interim order of injunction obtained by Ibrahim Umar and others was gotten without jurisdiction of the court and thereby set aside the order and thereafter awarded N100,000 as cost in favour of the APC.
Counsel to the claimants, Henry Bello, later described the judgment as the beauty of justice but disclosed that he will appeal the judgment based on the instruction of his clients.
On his path, one of the counsels to APC, Jerome Williams, described the judgment as a landmark which has given the APC the opportunity to go ahead to conduct its congresses in Rivers State.
The petitioner, Ibrahim Umar and 22 others including two dead persons, had upon the announcement by the APC on new dates for congresses approached the court to enforce and interpret the judgment of the High court, Appeal and Supreme Court against APC over the congresses that stalled the party’s fortunes in 2019.
