Court dismisses suit seeking to stop collation of Rivers Guber election results

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has dismissed a suit seeking to stop the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from collating results of the governorship election held in Rivers State on March 9, 2019.

Justice Inyang Ekwo's ruling on the suit, filed by the African Action Congress and three of its members, was that the court held that it lacked jurisdiction on the matter.

On March 18, the court refused to grant an ex parte motion filed by Biokpomabo Awara, governorship candidate of the AAC, seeking an order to stop the collation, announcement and conclusion of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). According to the judge, INEC should be put on notice.

However, in the ruling delivered on Tuesday, the Judge upheld the preliminary objection filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that the court could not assume or exercise jurisdiction over such matters, as it is the duty of the Election Petition Tribunal.