Why ruling invalidating Rivers APC primaries won’t stand, by Wenenda Wali: Read Full Article
A Member of Rivers All Progressives Congress (APC), Kingsley Wenenda Wali, has said judgment of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, nullifying primaries of the state chapter of the party, would not survive scrutiny of superior courts. Continue Reading
Wali, who is also National Leader of Unity House Foundation (UHF), a good governance and peace advocacy group, said the verdict is coming in the wake of proclamation of Executive Order 21 by the state government, disallowing political parties from using public facilities for campaigns without a non-refundable fee of N5 million.
In a statement, Wali reiterated that the attempt to stop APC from participating in the coming elections would not work, arguing that the leading opposition party in the state is loved by Rivers people and stands better chances of clinching the polls.
He urged party loyalists, members and supporters to be calm and focused in their quest for installation of “a government of the people under the stewardship of Pastor Tonye Cole of APC.”
The statement reads: “We knew we will get here, and we were prepared. After the promulgation of Executive Order 21, well-meaning people advised the APC to challenge this extremely political and self-serving order in court. My response has always been that the people, who cooked up this cowardly but draconian order, know the final outcome of this challenge already. However, we hoped that bravery, somehow, will prevail. But we were also not too optimistic, so we prepared and that’s why we focused on the Boys Scout’s motto of Be Prepared.
“Therefore, we were prepared for the ruling of the Federal High Court. As members of the APC, we respect and value the place of the judiciary in our democracy. So, all APC members are always advised to remain civil and legal irrespective of our disappointment. And this is why the APC immediately appealed the ruling cancelling the primaries conducted by the party in Rivers State.
“I urge all APC members and supporters in Rivers to remain calm, steadfast and focused. We will certainly prevail.”
