The Rivers State National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal has dismissed the petition of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, who contested to represent Asari-Toru/Akuku-Toru Federal Constituency, Dawari George.
The tribunal also dismissed the petition of the candidate of the APC who also contested the same election to represent Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government area.
Subsequently, the tribunal upheld the election of Boma Goodhead of Asari-Toru/Akuku-Toru and that of Nnam Obi of Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Federal Constituencies both of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
In an unanimous judgement, the Chairman of the tribunal, Adamu Guroma, held that the 2 APC candidates were not qualified to contest the March 28, 2015 National Assembly election.
The tribunal held that the APC failed to give the 21 day mandatory notice to INEC before the conduct of the primary election that produced the candidates as provided by section 85 of the electoral Act.
Reacting to the judgement, counsel representing the PDP at the National Assembly Election Tribunal, Donald Dem-Wigwe (SAN), told newsmen that the judgement has set a legal precedence for other NASS petitions before the tribunal.
Counsel to Dawari George, Ibiene Coxon-Amachree said the judgment is ill-conceived.
In the meantime, the candidates of the APC affected by the judgement have gone on appeal to challenge the judgement of the Tribunal.
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