Rivers gov poll wike appeals tribunal judgment #

You're referring to the recent Rivers State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal judgment.

For those who may not be aware, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Nyesom Wike of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the 2019 Rivers State governorship election. However, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Tonye Cole, had challenged the outcome of the election at the tribunal, alleging that the election was marred by irregularities and that Wike was not validly elected.

On January 25, 2022, the Rivers State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal delivered its judgment, dismissing the petition filed by Tonye Cole and the APC. The tribunal held that Wike was validly elected as the Governor of Rivers State and that the petitioners failed to prove their allegations of electoral fraud and irregularities.

Here are some key highlights from the judgment:

  1. The tribunal dismissed the petition for lacking in merit, saying that the petitioners failed to provide sufficient evidence to prove their claims of electoral fraud and irregularities.
  2. The tribunal held that the election was generally peaceful and that the results declared by INEC were valid and authentic.
  3. The tribunal also dismissed the petitioners' claims of non-compliance with the Electoral Act and the Constitution, saying that the alleged irregularities did not affect the overall outcome of the election.
  4. The tribunal ordered the petitioners to pay the cost of N10 million to Wike and the PDP, as well as N5 million to INEC.

The judgment has been welcomed by Wike and the PDP, who have hailed it as a victory for democracy and the rule of law. However, the APC and Tonye Cole have expressed disappointment with the judgment and have hinted at the possibility of appealing the decision to a higher court.

It's worth noting that the judgment is not final and can be appealed to the Court of Appeal or even the Supreme Court. However, for now, Wike remains the Governor of Rivers State, and the judgment has brought an end to the legal battle over the 2019 governorship election in the state.