News
Tribunal upholds Wike’s election
The Rivers State Governorship Election Tribunal Saturday validated the re-election of Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike and dismissed the petition filed by the defeated governorship candidate of the African Action Congress ( AAC), Biokpomabo Awara.
The tribunal had earlier dismissed the petition filed by the governorship candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), Mr. Victor Fingesi, challenging the governor’s victory in the March 9 election in the state.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Wike winner of the election after recording a “majority of lawful votes” in the election.
The Chairman of the tribunal, Justice K.B. Olawoyin, declared that both petitioners failed to prove their cases beyond a reasonable doubt.
READ ALSO: Osinbajo reveals Nigerian govt’s plan to diversify from oil
According to him, Awara and Fingesi failed to adduce evidence to prove that the election was marred by violence and irregularities.
“We affirm the election of Nyesom Ezenwo Wike as duly elected,” he said said.
The panel declared that Governor Wike won 19 out of the 21 local government areas where elections held, while the petitioner won in two LGAs.
Justice Olawoyin said the petitioners failed to call any witness to give credible evidence that there were malpractices during the election.
Join the conversation
Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism
Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.
As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.
If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.
Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.
INVESTIGATION: In Kwara, multimillion-naira milk processing plant is abandoned, converted to a chicken outlet
After the government spent millions of naira to establish a milk processing plant in Kwara State that would provided jobs...
SPECIAL REPORT: For Sokoto communities, promise of healthcare is akin to death sentence
In this story, ABDULRASHEED HAMMAD delves into the dire realities of Primary Health Care services in Sokoto State, shedding light...
ICYMI…SPECIAL REPORT: NNPCL hides behind PIA to frustrate disclosure, accountability
Nigeria’s major oil company, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), in what appears to be a common practice of disregard...
INVESTIGATION: Multi-million naira Ekiti resort center remains uncompleted a decade after
The multimillion-naira project, expected to comprise recreational buildings, now consists of cassava farmland, a bush used for excretion, and a...
SPECIAL REPORT: Torturous experiences of students with disabilities in Oyo tertiary institutions
For students with disabilities in Oyo state-owned tertiary institutions, learning is a torturous and distressing experience, considering the building structures...