Breaking… Rivers Tribunal Sacks Gov Wike

In from Timothy Enietan-Matthews . . .

The Rivers State Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja, Saturday afternoon, ordered the Independent National Elector Commission (INEC) to conduct a fresh election into the office of governor of Rivers State.

The tribunal,  in a petition brought before him by the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Dakuku Peterside,  against the election of Governor Nyesome Wike, held that it was in agreement that the evidence of the witnesses of Wike and INEC is incredible and unreliable, adding that it was also satisfied that the petitioners have proved their case.

The tree-man Tribunal led by Suleiman Ambrousa, held that Wike was not duly elected governor of Rivers state, adding that the election was flawed based on evidence presented to it. It therefore ruled that a fresh election be conducted in the state within 90 days.

The presiding judge while reviewing the witnesses stated that Peterside/APC called 56 witnesses and of the respondents: INEC called 16; Wike-24 and PDP-none.

INEC argued that the petitioners failed to prove their case polling unit by polling unit in line with Supreme Court earlier decisions

On his part, Wike’s counsel argued, that most of the petitioners’ witnesses gave hearsay evidence, according to the tribunal. Governor Wike’s other major arguments, according to the tribunal, include: Petitioners are required to prove polling unit by polling unit but they only called few polling unit agents. Non-usage of card reader cannot be grounds for nullifying election.

Mr. Wike also argued that the election was free and fair and he was duly returned governor. He asked the tribunal to strike out the petition.

Read also: Breaking … Tribunal orders governorship rerun in Akwa Ibom

The tribunal stated that the PDP argued that non-usage of card reader cannot be grounds of nullification of election, and that the petitioners failed to prove their case and the case should be struck out.

The Tribunal also held, that the petitioner, Mr. Peterside, argued that the card reader machine was made mandatory by INEC’s guideline and has the backing of the Electoral Act.

The Tribunal dismissed preliminary issues concerning its competence raised by the respondents, and stated that the characters of voters called by Wike were impugned under cross-examination.

It noted, that Wike’s witnesses- dodged questions under cross-examination and refused to answer questions on documents the petitioners confronted them with.

Ambrousa therefore said, “We are in agreement that the evidence of the witnesses of Wike and INEC is incredible and unreliable. We are satisfied that the petitioners have proved their case. We hereby order INEC to conduct fresh elections.”

 

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