A magistrate court in Port Harcourt has granted bail to 35 persons arrested for allegedly committing electoral offences during the last supplementary elections in Etche local government area of Rivers State.
TVC News Uche Okoro reports that those arrested and arraigned before the Magistrate Court include spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Rivers State, Samuel Nwanosike.
They were brought before the court on a 3-count charge bothering on misdemeanor, unlawful assembly and plotting to instill fear in voters in Etche Local Government Area.
The atmosphere erupted in wild jubilation when the court granted the application of the defense team for bail.
The Court also granted the second application made by the defense that the state should take over prosecution of the matter from the police.
Meanwhile some party chieftains hailed the decision of the court to grant them bail. They insisted that their arrest was a breach of the electoral act.
Aside from the 4 PDP Chieftains granted bail on self-recognition, the remaining 31 accused persons were granted bail in the sum of 100,000 naira and 3 sureties each who must be resident in Port Harcourt.
The matter has been adjourned to March the 9th, 2017.
