Efforts by Ibrahim Umar and 22 others loyal to Magnus Abe to have the Supreme Court remove the All Progressives Congress Chairman in Rivers State, Ojukaye Flag-Amachree and members of his executive including the party’s Governorship, Senatorial, House of Representatives, and House of Assembly candidates ended in futility.

The Supreme Court declined making any injunctive and restraining ruling and instead adjourned hearing in the matter brought before it by H.A. Bello, counsel for Ibrahim Umar and 22 others seeking to nullify the congresses in Rivers State.

Abe, who is the Senator representing Rivers South East in the National Assembly, has been at loggerheads with his former boss, the Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, who he served under as Secretary to the State Government while the latter was Governor of Rivers State.

The apex court said that it would now hear the matter on January 21, 2019, an outcome that pleased the Tonye Cole campaign.

Although efforts were made to delve into the competence of Appeal No. 198, which was not before their Lordships, it took the intervention of a Justice of the Supreme Court to stop the proceedings.

The Justice had mildly reminded the Court that he was not a member of the panel set to hear appeal No 198.

A statement issued by the spokesman of the Tonye Cole Campaign Organisation, Chief Ogbonna Nwuke recalled that the appeal which was earlier adjourned to March 8, next year was relisted for hearing today, 20th December, 2018 following an application by H.A. Bello.

All efforts to delve into other issues not connected to the matter on the court’s list were truncated, the statement explained.

According to it, “one of the Justices drew the attention of the Presiding Judge to the fact that he is not a member of the panel. This immediately left the justice with only one option, to adjourn to January 21st to hear the application for abridgement of time.”

We advise members of the public to remain calm while justice is sought.

“We need peace, built on equity and justice and we are in the right place to find it. Let us ignore cheap propaganda and falsehood. Irresponsible talk about thugs and our DG invading the Supreme Court is fake news from desperate minds. Tonye Cole and his campaign are a symbol of peace and no amount of provocative behaviour will divert us from this path”.