Tribunal Quashes Case Against PDP Lawmakers

The Rivers State Rerun Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja has dismissed a petition filed by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the March 19 rerun election of Obio/Akpor Constituency-1, Collins Ordu.
The APC candidate had gone to the tribunal to challenge the re-election of Martin Chike Amaewhule of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), representing Obio/Akpor Constituency-1 in the Rivers State House of Assembly.
Counsel to the lawmaker had told the tribunal that Amaewhule was not the one sued by the petitioner, Ordu.
His lawyers had contended that the APC candidate sued Martins Amaewhule instead of  Amaewhule Martin Chike, the real name of the lawmaker, whose election is being challenged.
In his ruling, the Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Ali Garuba, agreed with the lawmaker that the APC candidate sued the wrong person.
The tribunal, therefore, dismissed the petition for incompetence.
Reacting to the ruling, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State said that the judgment of the Rivers State Rerun Election Petition Tribunal, which involved the PDP candidate, was a welcome development.
The PDP Chairman in Rivers State, Felix Obuah, in a statement, applauded members of the tribunal for exhibiting professionalism and resisting alleged pressure and blackmail by the opposition party.
The statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Jerry Needam, said the judgment will now allow Amaewhule to fully settle down and give the people of Obio/Akpor better representation.

Josephine Atagana