The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has expressed its satisfaction with a landmark judgment delivered by the Appeal Court on Thursday, which it claims has reinforced the integrity of state electoral processes. The party’s spokesperson, Darlington Nwauju, lauded the decision as a significant corrective measure against a previous ruling by Justice Peter Lifu, which the APC argues could have disrupted local government elections across various states.
In a statement following the judgment, the APC highlighted concerns that Justice Lifu’s ruling would have undermined the recently conducted council polls in states including Kwara, Anambra, Imo, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Abia, and Cross Rivers, among others. The party asserted that the Appeal Court’s decision was crucial in preventing a potential constitutional crisis that could have arisen from an overreach of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) into the jurisdiction of state electoral bodies.
“This judgment has rectified the misrepresentation of our Constitution as it applies to the relationship between INEC and State Electoral Commissions,” Nwauju stated. “It is clear that INEC cannot assume the roles of these commissions unless there is a formal Constitutional amendment.”
The ruling was also welcomed by the Action People’s Party (APP), whose chairman in Rivers State, Sunny Wokekoro, celebrated the court’s affirmation of the legitimacy of the Local Government Area (LGA) elections held on October 5. Wokekoro emphasized that the judgment not only validated the outcome of the elections, which his party had won, but also restored faith in the judiciary’s role in upholding democratic principles.
“This court ruling is a vindication of our electoral process and reinstates the belief of Rivers people in the impartiality of our judicial system,” Wokekoro remarked. “It sends a clear message that our elections are conducted fairly and in accordance with the law.”
The continuing dialogue surrounding this ruling underscores the critical importance of adhering to legal frameworks in the conduct of elections at all levels of government, affirming the right of states to manage their electoral processes independently of federal interference. Both the APC and APP are optimistic that this development will lead to greater stability and confidence in future electoral endeavors in Rivers State and beyond.