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By Joel Anekwe
The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has declared that Wednesday’s ruling by Justice Chinwendu Nwogu of the Port Harcourt High Court annulling the governorship primaries did not come to the party as a surprise.
In a press conference reacting to the ruling, Rivers APC said the ruling has brought to an end the collaboration between Senator Magnus Abe and Governor Nyesom Wike to destabilize the APC in the state.
The party recalled “the many overt and covert partnerships between Governor Wike and Senator Magnus Abe using the Rivers State Judiciary on this matter to scuttle the electoral fortunes of the APC in 2019” alleging “today’s ruling is a culmination of such an evil collaboration.”
“We further note that the grand rally staged today by Senator Magnus Abe was carefully planned and scheduled by both the Senator and Gov. Nyesom Wike to coincide with the Rivers State High Court judgment details of which they were already privy to. It was therefore not surprising when Senator Abe gleefully announced the exact ruling of the court on the rally rostrum just about when the judge was still reading his judgment in court”, the party said in a statement signed by its State Publicity Secretary, Chris Finebone.
The APC added; “We wish to inform APC members and sympathizers of our great party in Rivers State and across Nigeria to remain calm as we are well prepared in anticipation of today’s ruling and have therefore done the needful.”
Declaring that there was no cause for alarm, the Rivers APC stated, “despite aspects of the matter which are already before the Court of Appeal and the Nigerian Supreme Court, the lower court went ahead to decide on a matter that is being challenged at higher courts of the land. Indeed, our legal team is already finalizing the paperwork to file an appeal on today’s judgment and stay of execution.”
The party declared that nothing would happen to its state executive committee, led by Ojukaye Flag-Amachree, as it had perpetual injunction granted by Abuja High Court 14, presided over by His Lordship, Hon. Justice A. O. Musa on Tuesday, September 4, 2018 which protected against any action from above.
“It is also important to emphasise that the entire 319 wards and 23 LGAs excos of the party are, by implication, protected against the ruling by any court of coordinate jurisdiction with the Abuja High Court that granted the Ojukaye-led State exco a perpetual injunction before today. We urge everyone to go about their duties without let.
“Again, it must be mentioned that if the entire collaboration between Senator Abe and Governor Wike on this matter is to nullify actions the party has taken recently relating to its mandate by seeking to invalidate the Ojukaye-led exco, such an exercise has failed. For example, the primaries so far conducted in Rivers State were done by the national executives or national leadership of the APC and not essentially by the Ojukaye-led exco in Rivers State and seeking to invalidate the Ojukaye-led exco cannot in anyway invalidate the primaries.
“We are urging our supporters not to lose sleep as appeal have been entered and stay of execution on the matter have been entered.”
