Why we barred APC from fielding candidates in Rivers – INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has de-listed all candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the upcoming general elections in Rivers State, barring them from contesting.

In a statement issued in Port Harcourt, on Friday, INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Obo Effanga, said the decision by the commission followed the outcome of the ruling on the litigation between two factions in the state’s APC.

Mr Effanga noted that the APC factions of Magnus Abe and that of the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, had been in court over the conduct of congresses by the party.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, had on Monday ordered the INEC to expunge the names of candidates representing the APC in Rivers in the February and March general elections.

The REC said that INEC had to obey the ruling of the court.

The presiding judge, James Omotosho, had ruled on the suit brought before him, asking the court not to recognise any candidate from the state APC.

Mr Omotosho referred to an earlier ruling by the Rivers High Court, which nullified the ward, local government and state congresses held by the state APC.

“All nominations in the APC, from governorship, Senate, House of Representatives and others, are hereby nullified and void and set aside.

“Only political parties that conducted valid primaries are eligible to produce candidates for the general elections,” the judge ruled.

(NAN)