A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has dismissed a suit challenging the emergence of Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs as the governorship candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), removing a significant legal obstacle ahead of the 2027 Rivers State governorship election. The suit, filed by NDC aspirant Kings Unyeawaji, sought to nullify Lulu-Briggs’ candidacy on the grounds that he was allegedly excluded from the party’s governorship primary. The action named the NDC, its National Chairman, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs as defendants.
However, when the matter came up before Justice Muhammed Turaki of the Federal High Court, counsel to the plaintiff informed the court that his client wished to discontinue the case. With no objections from the defendants, the court dismissed the suit, effectively bringing the legal challenge to an end.
Before the withdrawal, counsel to Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs had challenged both the jurisdiction of the court and the plaintiff’s legal standing, arguing that the plaintiff neither participated in the governorship primary nor filed the suit within the statutory period prescribed for disputes arising from party primaries.
Reacting to the judgment, Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs welcomed the development and commended the plaintiff for allowing the matter to end peacefully. He called on all political actors to embrace issue-based campaigns and to respect the outcome of democratic processes.
“We are all Rivers people. There are no monsters among us. Let us go to the field, contest on a level playing ground, and allow the people to decide,” he said, while expressing confidence that peaceful politics and healthy competition would ultimately benefit Rivers State. He also reiterated his commitment to economic growth, good governance and the liberation of Rivers State if elected governor in 2027.
The dismissal of the suit is widely seen as a major boost for the Nigeria Democratic Congress, as it removes uncertainty surrounding the party’s governorship ticket and allows it to focus fully on preparations for the 2027 election. With the legal challenge now behind it, the NDC is expected to intensify grassroots mobilization and campaign activities across the state as it seeks to present Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs as its choice to lead Rivers State into a new era.