A Federal High Court in Port Harcourt has dismissed a suit that challenged Dumo Lulu-Briggs' selection as the Nigeria Democratic Congress governorship candidate for Rivers State. Kings Unyeawaji, an NDC aspirant, brought the case against the party, its leadership, the Independent National Electoral Commission and Lulu-Briggs himself, claiming he'd been blocked from the primary vote.
Unyeawaji wanted the court to cancel Lulu-Briggs' candidacy and declare him the rightful nominee instead. Justice Muhammed Turaki presided over the hearing at the Federal High Court.
Ibim Dokubo, representing Lulu-Briggs, challenged whether the court had the power to hear the case at all. He argued that Unyeawaji had no legal right to sue because he never took part in the governorship primary in the first place.
Dokubo also pointed out that Nigerian electoral law gives parties just 14 days to handle disputes from primaries. The suit came too late, he said, well after that deadline had passed.
When the matter resumed before the judge, Unyeawaji's lawyer asked to withdraw the case. The defendants didn't object, and the court granted the request, striking out the suit entirely.
Lulu-Briggs welcomed the decision in remarks to supporters after the ruling. He praised Unyeawaji for stepping back and letting the dispute end without further conflict.
"I thank him for allowing the matter to rest," Lulu-Briggs said. "My hope is that in 2027, everyone who contests the election will accept the outcome in good faith."
He urged Rivers politicians to embrace a spirit of unity ahead of the next election cycle. "We are all Rivers people.
There are no monsters among us," he added.
Lulu-Briggs called for fair competition and respect for voters' choices. "Let us go to the field, contest on a level playing ground, and allow the people to decide," he said.
