Global Upfront Newspapers
CoverNewsPolitics

Port Harcourt Court Bars Tonye Cole As APC Governorship Candidate In Rivers State Over Dual Citizenship, Due Process

A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, on Thursday, disqualified the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State, Tonye Cole, over dual citizenship.

Tonye Cole is said to be a citizen of the United Kingdom.

The court also ruled that the APC did not comply with the Electoral Act that brought in Cole as the candidate of the party.

The Peoples Democratic Party in Rivers State had approached the court to direct the Independent National Electoral Commission not to recognize Tonye Cole as the governorship candidate of APC for alleged dual citizenship and that the delegate election that brought him did not follow due process having not been monitored by INEC.

Justice Emmanuel Obile in his judgment agreed with the People’s Democratic Party that Tonye Cole is not eligible to contest governorship position.

He thereafter directed INEC to delist the name of Tonye Cole from the list of eligible candidates for the 2023 Governorship election.

The decision of the court is however contrary to it’s earlier ruling on a preliminary objection in a suit by the APC against the PDP and it’s Governorship candidate Siminialaye Fubara.

In that suit, Justice Obile had ruled that the no party has the right to interfere in the internal affairs of other political parties and also said that the court has no jurisdiction to entertain that case.

Speaking to newsmen outside the courtroom, counsels to the PDP, Dike Udenna expressed happiness over the judgment which he said means that APC has no governorship candidate for the 2023 General election.

On his part, counsel to the APC, Collins Dike said the APC will challenge the judgement at the Court of Appeal.

He said the constitution of Nigeria allows him to contest the Governorship election having been born in Nigeria.

The lawyer said Tonye Cole “voluntarily acquired the citizenship of the United Kingdom” which does not prevent him taking part in the election.

DAILY POST

Advertize With Us

See Also

Northern groups demand referendum on Biafra as Yoruba activists rally in Ekiti State

Global Upfront

Naira Swap: Over N500 Billion Of The Old N500, N1,000 Notes Yet To Be Returned To CBN, Says EFCC Chairman

Global Upfront

Shut down U.S. and start over, Medical experts urge govt, as COVID-19 cases surpass 4 million

Global Upfront

COVID-19: Army Cancels Conference Over Death of General, All Participants to Proceed on Self-Isolation

Global Upfront

Pro-Biafra group splits as Mujahid Asari Dokubo emerge as leader of Biafra de-facto Customary Government (BCG)

Global Upfront

Buhari heads to New York, U.S. on Sunday for UN General Assembly

Global Upfront

Sit-at-home/Insecurity: Raid All IPOB/ESN/Unknown Gunmen Hideouts, COAS General Lagbaja Tells Troops Of 82 Division

Global Upfront

Defamation On General Buratai: Court Remands Self Acclaimed Kano Based Blogger

Global Upfront

Labour Party’s Candidate In Enugu State Governorship Election On Saturday Remains Chijioke Edeoga, Affirms LP Chairman, Abure

Global Upfront

54 Nigerian soldiers jailed for mutiny in protest against lack of weapons in fight against Boko Haram released after 7 years

Global Upfront

This website uses Cookies to improve User experience. We assume this is OK...If not, please opt-out! Accept Read More