Appeal court opens door for Rivers APC to participate in polls

Chidi Samuel

A window was slightly opened for  Rivers state All Progressive Congress (APC) to field candidates in the forthcoming general election as the court of appeal sitting in Port Harcourt on Monday granted an order to stay the execution of a lower court order barring it from participating in the election.

A Port Harcourt high court had in January nullified the primary polls conducted by both factions of the APC in Rivers.

While the faction of Rotimi Amaechi, minister of transportation, had produced Tony Cole as its governorship candidate, the other produced Magnus Abe, a serving senator.

However, the lower court ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to recognise any candidate of the APC in Rivers during the general election.

The court said the two factions of the party acted in disrespect of a pending suit before a Port Harcourt high court.

Both factions appealed the judgement.

At the court on Monday, Mohammed Mustapha, a judge, held that it would not be fair not to grant the stay of execution since both factions have appealed.