The member, representing Khana/Gokana Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives and the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for Khana/Gokana Federal Constituency in the 2023 general elections, Rt. Hon. Dumnamene Robinson Dekor has again defeated Legborsi Yamaabana at the Appeal Court sitting in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
Delivering the judgement on Thursday, December 15, 2022 in a suit instituted by Legborsi Yamaabana challenging the PDP Primary election won by Rt. Hon. Dekor on May 22, the panel of the Court of Appeal in a unanimous judgement upheld the decision of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt which had earlier on October 19, ruled in favour of Rt. Hon. Dekor.
Legborsi Yamaabana had filed a motion on notice under section 13(1), (4) of the Federal High Court Act Cap. F12, laws of the federation of Nigeria, 2018, order 6 rule (5) (A), (B), (D) (I), (II), order 26 rules I, 2(I) 3, 7(2), 2, 8(I), 9 and order 28 rule I(I) (2) of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) rules, 2019, and under the inherent jurisdiction of the court seeking for an interlocutory order directing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Rt. Hon. Dumnamene Dekor who were respondents to allow Legborsi Yamaabana participate in the PDP Primaries that was billed to hold on May 22, 2022.
However, attempt by Legborsi Yamaabana to secure the orders of the court to allow him participate in the PDP primaries failed. The matter was later transferred from Federal High Court Abuja Division to Federal High, Port Harcourt Division.
Yamaabana went to court seeking inter alia, an order for the court to compel INEC to accept him as the PDP candidate for Khana/Gokana Federal Constituency, alleging unlawful and unjust exclusion from participating in the PDP primaries.
Justice Phoebe Ayua of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt Division on October 19, upheld submission by counsel to Rt. Hon. Dekor and accordingly decided the matter in favour of Rt. Hon. Dumanamene Robinson Dekor as the rightful candidate for Khana/Gokana Federal Constituency who won the PDP primary election held on May 22.
Dissatisfied with the judgement, Legborsi Yamaabana appealed against the decision of the lower court to the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt Division.
The Court of Appeal in a unanimous judgement on Thursday, December 15, upheld the judgement of the lower court and affirmed Rt. Hon. Dekor as the Khana/Gokana Federal Constituency candidate for 2023 general elections.
Meanwhile, members of the Rt. Hon. Dum Dekor Media Team have described Legborsi Yamaabana as a non member of the PDP and is being used.
Members of the Media Team warned those using him to desist forthwith, assuring that in due time, those behind him would be exposed
“How can Legborsi Yamaabana who cannot win election in his polling unit, and who has not been seen or spotted in any PDP activity, in either his community or ward or local government area claim to be a member of the PDP,” they queried.
“We will expose him and those behind him”, the group assured.
The media Team congratulated Rt. Hon. Dumnamene Robinson Dekor on the Court of Appeal victory and assured him of victory always and even in the next general elections in 2023.