Supreme Court Upholds Wike’s Election As Rivers State Governor

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The Supreme Court has upheld the election of Nyesom Wike as the Governor of Rivers State.

The reason for the judgement is to be listed on February 12.

Giving the ruling on Wednesday, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, set aside thejudgement of the Appeal Court which nullified the election of Governor Wike.

It is a unanimous judgement by a seven-man panel of the apex court which also affirmed the election of Senator Ibikunle Amosun as the duly elected Governor of Ogun State and GovernorDavid Umahi of Ebonyi State.

The candidate of the Labour Party in the governorship election of Ebonyi State, Mr Edward Nkwegu, had filed a case, challenging the election of Mr Umahi as the governor of Ebonyi State.

But the court dismissed the case.

The courtroom was filled to capacity as lawyers awaited the verdict of the court on the elections of Governor Wike of Rivers State, Senator Amosun of Ogun State and Mr Umahi of Ebonyi State.

The proceedings opened with arguments of the parties.

Lawyer to Governor Wike in his argument told the court that the use or non-use of card reader could not be a ground for nullifying an election.

This position was adopted by the lawyer representing the Peoples Democratic Party and the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Arguing on points of law, lawyer to the All Progressive Congress candidate, Mr Dakuku Peterside, insisted that the election was marred by wide-spread violence and multiple-voting.

After listening to the arguments, Justice Kekere-Ekun set aside the judgment of the Appeal Court.

Lawyers to Governor Wike and the PDP expressed satisfaction with judgment that has put an end to the case.

Lawyer to Mr Peterside also expressed his opinion on the judgment.

Governor Wike had approached the apex court with a 20 grounds of appeal, arguing that the Election Petition Tribunal relied on hear-say and inadmissible evidence to arrive at its judgment nullifying his election.

Senator Amosun’s election was also upheld on the ground that the appeal filed by Mr Adegboyega Isiaka lacked merit.

Lawyer to Senator Amosun applauded the verdict of the apex court.

The apex court has, however, fixed February 20, 2016 to give reasons for affirming the elections of Governors Wike, Amosun and Umahi.

The Court of Appeal had on December 16, 2015, struck out the appeal of Mr Wike, seeking a dismissal of the judgment of the Rivers State Election Petition Tribunal which sacked him as governor of the state.

The five-man panel of the appellate court held that Mr Wike was not validly elected as governor, having failed to comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act and the electoral guidelines laid down by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).