The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Rivers State chapter says the Nigerian Judiciary has once more asserted its constitutional right to defend the laws of the land and persons whose rights have been flagrantly violated.
This is contained in a statement issued and signed by Jerry Needam, State Publicity Secretary of the party lauding the Court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt for upholding the decision of the election petitions tribunal, cancelling the election of Senator George Sekibo of the Rivers East district.
The statement said the foresight of the Appellate Court has confirmed the alarm raised by the ACN in the state over the unprecedented massive rigging of the April, 2011 elections in the state.
The rigging, the statement further stressed was not confined to the senatorial election and wished other categories of the election could be dispassionately looked into to expose the monumental rascality displayed by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the April, 2011 general elections.
The ACN Publicity Secretary, Jerry Needam was however quick to note that cancelling a fraudulent election and calling for a fresh one, is one thing and ensuring that the ordered re-run election is fairly conducted is another.
He therefore urged the relevant authorities to prevail on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the powers that be, to observe decorum, and ensure that other parties and persons eligible for the re-run election are given equal and a level playing ground to exercise their civil rights of voting and be voted for.
Jerry Needam expressed optimism that given equal opportunities, the ACN would floor all other parties in any given election in Rivers State because they parade more credible candidates that have grassroots touch etc.
He pledged the commitment of the ACN in the state to help ensure a smooth re-run election devoid of rascality for which other parties especially the PDP are known.
Jerry Needam also urged all the ACN members and supporters in the state to come out in their mass to ensure that the ACN candidate emerges the next Senator for the Rivers East Senatorial District.
