A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and the Rivers State government to appear before it to explain why Saturday’s governorship and state assembly elections should not be suspended.
The invitation followed a suit by Chief Tonte Ibraye, the governorship candidate of the Africa Democratic Congress, ADC, and the party (ADC) seeking the suspension of the scheduled March 11 governorship election in the state.
Tonte in an ex parte motion in under Order 26, Rule 1, 2, 3, 6 (1) and 7, Order 28 Rule 1(1) and (2) of the Federal High Court ( Civil Procedure) Rule 2019 of the court, also stated that the new Executive Orders of the Rivers State government negatively impacted the electoral process in the state.
The plaintiffs, Chief Tonte Ibraye and ADC, had in the suit instituted in Abuja on four grounds sought the suspension of the governorship poll in the state.
Credit: The Nigerian Barrister
