Magnus Abe, senator representing
Rivers south-east, says it is untrue that the court of appeal has asked the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to list candidates of the All
Progressives Congress (APC) contesting the elections.
He said this while reacting to an
order of stay of execution granted by the court of appeal sitting in Port
Harcourt barring candidates of the APC from participating in the general
election.
The faction of Rotimi Amaechi,
minister of transportation, had produced Tony Cole as its governorship
candidate, while the other faction produced Abe as its candidate.
In January, the state high court
had nullified the primary polls conducted by both factions and ordered INEC not
to recognise any candidate of the party during the general election.
But on Monday, the appeal court
granted a stay of execution.
In a statement issued by Parry
Benson, Abe’s spokesman, the senator said the court did not order INEC to
restore the names of candidates for all elective positions in the state.
He said what is required of the
party is a “dispassionate review” of the issues in contention so that a clear
and definite decision can be made on those to fly the flag of the party in the
forthcoming elections.
“The facts are simple and sacred.
A faction of the party led by the Minister of Transportation and the DG of the
Presidential Campaign conducted congresses and indirect primaries in clear and
open violation of the orders of a court of competent jurisdiction. This was
done in the full glare of the entire country,” the statement read.
“What Nigerians are witnessing
now is a desperate attempt to reverse the law to get the President to raise the
hand of candidates that the law has said does not exist. The President’s
decision to abide strictly to the correct legal position is the reason for the
current pressure on the Judiciary.
“That issue is the subject of
series of pending litigations before Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal.
“The main issue that must now
agitate the minds of Nigerians is the position of the Supreme Court on the
matter moving forward. Will the Supreme Court turn around to tell Nigerians
that its former position on the consequences of disobedience to the orders of
the courts no longer holds? Or can the court of appeal now overturn an existing
judgment of the Supreme Court?
“The indirect primaries did not
hold by law, but the APC conducted a valid, and lawful direct primaries that
clearly puts the APC on the ballot without legal entanglements.
“Let me assure all lovers of
justice that a change of the judges does not automatically translate into a
change of the law. Therefore, we should all remain calm. The struggle for
justice in the party will continue until victory is achieved.”
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