The Court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt on Friday set
aside a judgement of the Federal High Court which disqualified the Governorship
candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State, Tonye Cole over
alleged dual citizenship and non-compliance with the Electoral Act.
The APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission
were also parties in the suit which was filed at the High Court by the Peoples
Democratic Party.
The Court of Appeal described the PDP as a “meddlesome
interloper”.
The three-man panel of appeal in a unanimous judgment said the PDP lacks the locus standi to challenge the APC, its Governorship Candidate and INEC on the conduct of the congresses and primary elections which brought in Cole as the candidate.
On the issue of dual citizenship, the Appeal Court in the
judgment read by Justice Olabode Adegbehingbe on behalf of Justice Joseph
Ikyegh ruled that the PDP lacks the legal right to drag INEC to court in a
pre-election matter.
The panel said the Supreme Court’s decision on the issue of
citizenship regarding electoral matters is final.
Speaking to journalists outside the court, Counsel to the
APC, Chimenem Jerome described the judgement as “a watershed in political
jurisprudence”.
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