FRANCIS DOUKPOLAGHA V. RUFUS ADA GEORGE & ORS.

NASIR, P.C.A. (Delivering the Leading Judgment): Before the election held on 14th December, 1991, the two registered political parties, the National Republican Convention (NRC) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) were obliged by law; including the guidelines from the National Electoral Commission (NEC) to hold primary elections for the purposes of fielding candidates for the election to the office of Governors and membership of the State House of Assembly. In the Rivers State, both political parties held their primary elections (hereinafter referred to as the primaries). In the Rivers State, the primaries held for the nomination or election of the NRC flag bearer for the election of the Governor on 14th December, was a contest between eight contestants including Mr. Francis Doukpolagha and Mr. Rufus Ada George. The primaries are internal affairs of each political party in the sense that only registered members of the party are expected to vote or be voted for and the rules for the p…