The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state and a senior lawyer, Barr. E.C. Aguma, of having “chosen the lowly part of deliberately misinforming the good people of Rivers State about a simple and straightforward court adjournment that has left the PDP in further quandary over the May 23 council polls in Rivers State.”

According to Rivers APC State Publicity Secretary Chris Finebone, “The PDP had approached a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt for an order to stop the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission [RSIEC] from releasing updated voters’ register to RSIEC for the conduct of the May 23 local government council elections in Rivers State.

However, Justice Lambo Akanbi adjourned the matter sine die after hearing from counsel to Rivers State government and RSIEC, Mr Beluolisa Nwofor, who informed the court that he had entered an appeal at the Court of Appeal challenging the jurisdiction of the court to handle the matter and the motion on notice to restrain further injunctions and/or proceedings on the matter.”

Continuing, Finebone said in a statement issued last night in Port Harcourt: “What that simply means is that PDP has started nothing until the appeal court determines whether the lower court has jurisdiction to entertain the matter in question or not. It also means that there is nothing restraining the INEC, RSIEC and other parties from proceeding on their course of action prior to PDP initiating any court action on the matter. This much the RSIEC legal team has clearly made public.

“However, the APC views with disdain the attempts by both the PDP and its counsel, Emma Aguma to deliberately and dishonestly misinform the public that the lower court has granted an injunctive order against the INEC or any other party. The respected judge of the lower court simply washed his hands off the matter until the matter of jurisdiction of his court is determined by the appeal court. Nothing more!

“Many a Rivers man will now understand why the likes of Emma Aguma, despite years of practice, the honourable Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) title has eternally eluded him. By his actions over the subject matter, Barr Aguma has shown that he is a dishonest friend of the court.

“The APC would like to appeal to its numerous leaders and members to continue with their preparations for the May 23 council polls and not be distracted by the antics of PDP members and their cohorts who are shying away from being exposed as incapable of winning any well-organised elections as they lack the number and credibility in the eyes of good people of Rivers State.”

•Photo shows Rivers APC Chairman Davies Ikanya.

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