Court Dismisses Suit Against NDC, Lulu-Briggs, Clears Path For 2027 Governorship Bid • Channels Television

A Federal High Court in Port Harcourt has dismissed a suit challenging the emergence of Dumo Lulu-Briggs as the governorship candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), after the plaintiff applied to discontinue the case.

The suit was filed 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 nullify Lulu-Briggs’ emergence as the party’s candidate.

Counsel to Lulu-Briggs, Ibim Dokubo, challenged both the jurisdiction of the court and the plaintiff’s locus standi.

He argued that the plaintiff lacked the legal standing to institute the suit because he did not participate in the governorship primary. Dokubo also contended that the statutory 14-day period within which complaints arising from party primaries can be filed had elapsed before the action was commenced.

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When the matter came up before Justice Muhammed Turaki, counsel to the plaintiff applied to discontinue the suit. The application was not opposed by the defendants, following which the court dismissed the case.

Reacting to the development, Lulu-Briggs commended the plaintiff for allowing the matter to end peacefully and urged political actors to embrace the same spirit during the 2027 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 stands to benefit when political stakeholders embrace peaceful competition and respect the outcome of democratic processes.

He also expressed confidence in his agenda for the people of Rivers State, saying that if elected, he would work to liberate the state and drive economic growth.