Court Dismisses Appeal Against Hon Nwidadah

The Appeal Court in Port Harcourt, last Wednesday dismissed an appeal by the candidate of the United Nigeria Peoples Party (UNPP), Douglas Nwilee, against Hon. Legborsi Nwidadah of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), representing Khana Constituency I in the Rivers State of Assembly.

The Appeal Court presided over by Justice Dattjo Muhammad, upheld the earlier decision of the Election Petition Tribunal in Port Harcourt, which dismissed the petition for lack of merits and non compliance with the electoral act 2010 as amended.

In a 43 minutes judgement delivered by Justice P.A. Galuize, the appeal was dismissed with a fine of N90,000, placed on the petitioner as penalty for unprofessional filing of appeal.

The Appeal Court also upheld the declaration of Hon. Nwidadah by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the winner of the election Petition Tribunal sitting in Port Harcourt, and presided over by Justice Veronica Umeh had on 5th of September 2011, dismissed the petition of the UNPP candidate on the ground that the petitioner filed out of date, before the matter was appealed.

Hon. Nwidadah hailed the judgement, describing is as a victory for the people of his constituency. The lawmaker said he had no grudges against the appellant and implored him to join force with him to advance the course of development in the area. He assured the people of Khana Constituency I of effective representation.

Beemene Taneh