The
Rivers state governorship election petition tribunal sitting in Abuja
has nullified the election of Nyesom Wike as Rivers Governor.
According to a judgement delivered by the chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Suleiman Ambrousa, the petitioners’ witnesses testified truthfully without any falsehood in their demeanour.
Dakuku Peterside, the petitioner and Rivers state governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), had presented 56 witnesses who testified against Wike.
Wike, on the other hand, presented 24 witnesses, but the tribunal held that their testimonies were weak, and as such could not prove the governor’s case beyond reasonable doubt.
To compound an already complicated state, Wike’s witnesses made contradictory statements, which made the case more complicating for him.
In its two-hour judgment, the tribunal also dismissed Wike’s petition over the power of the tribunal to entertain the case.
It further held that evidence showed that it was not conducted in line with regulations of the INEC, adding that the respondents could not run away from documents presented, even as the use of card readers was deliberately defied.
The tribunal said the petitioner had proved their case; hence the election was not in compliance with the Electoral Guidelines.
According to a judgement delivered by the chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Suleiman Ambrousa, the petitioners’ witnesses testified truthfully without any falsehood in their demeanour.
Dakuku Peterside, the petitioner and Rivers state governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), had presented 56 witnesses who testified against Wike.
Wike, on the other hand, presented 24 witnesses, but the tribunal held that their testimonies were weak, and as such could not prove the governor’s case beyond reasonable doubt.
To compound an already complicated state, Wike’s witnesses made contradictory statements, which made the case more complicating for him.
In its two-hour judgment, the tribunal also dismissed Wike’s petition over the power of the tribunal to entertain the case.
It further held that evidence showed that it was not conducted in line with regulations of the INEC, adding that the respondents could not run away from documents presented, even as the use of card readers was deliberately defied.
The tribunal said the petitioner had proved their case; hence the election was not in compliance with the Electoral Guidelines.
The
tribunal ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
to conduct a fresh governorship election in the state within 90 days.
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