A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has dismissed a suit challenging the emergence of Dumo Lulu-Briggs as the governorship candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), following the plaintiff’s decision to withdraw the case.
The suit was instituted by Kings Unyeawaji, an aspirant of the NDC, against the party, its chairman, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Lulu-Briggs. He alleged that he was excluded from the party’s governorship primary and sought to invalidate Lulu-Briggs’ nomination as the party’s candidate.
Counsel to Lulu-Briggs, Ibim Dokubo, challenged both the court’s jurisdiction and the plaintiff’s legal standing to institute the action.
He argued that the plaintiff lacked the locus standi to file the suit because he did not participate in the governorship primary. Dokubo also maintained that the case was filed outside the statutory 14-day period allowed for disputes arising from party primaries.
When the matter came before Justice Muhammed Turaki, counsel to the plaintiff applied to discontinue the suit. None of the defendants objected to the application, prompting the court to dismiss the case.
Reacting to the ruling, Lulu-Briggs commended the plaintiff for bringing the matter to a peaceful conclusion and urged politicians to adopt the same approach during the 2027 general elections.
“I thank him for allowing the matter to rest. My hope is that in 2027, everyone who contests the election will accept the outcome in good faith.
“We are all Rivers people. There are no monsters among us. Let us go to the field, contest on a level playing ground, and allow the people to decide.”
Lulu-Briggs said Rivers State would benefit when political stakeholders embrace peaceful competition and respect the outcome of democratic processes.
He also expressed confidence in his vision for the state, saying that if elected, he would focus on transforming Rivers State and stimulating economic growth.
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