The Federal High Court in Port Harcourt has disqualified 16 All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates for the Rivers State House of Assembly.
Justice Turaki Mohammed gave the verdict on Friday in the Rivers State capital.
The affected constituencies are – Andoni, Etche 1 and 2, Tai, Gokana, Eleme, Port Harcourt City 1, 2 and 3, Khana 1 and 2, Okrika, Ahoada West, and Obio-Akpor 1 and 2.
The Judge, who delivered the ruling in an application filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), held that the party had sufficiently proved that the APC primaries that produced the candidates were not monitored by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He also dismissed a preliminary objection filed by the APC challenging the court’s jurisdiction to adjudicate in the matter.
The Judge, however, upheld the nomination of the party’s candidates in Emohua, Ahoada East 1 and 2, Ikwerre, Omuma, Ogu Bolo, Bonny, Asari Toru, Akuku Toru 1 and 2, Ogba Egbema Ndoni 1 and 2, Opobo-Nkoru, Abual-Odua, Oyigbo, and Degema constituencies.